Melbourne Storm won an exciting match against the Sydney Roosters by a score of 34-30, but the team’s hopes of winning the premiership were dashed by a terrible blow. Jahrome Hughes, the Storm’s star halfback and current Dally M Medal winner, hurt his shoulder during the game. Melbourne fans are currently anxiously waiting for news of his recovery. With the 2025 NRL Finals coming up soon, Hughes’s absence, along with that of other key players, has put a big damper on Melbourne’s hopes of winning the championship.
The Hurt
- The injury to Jahrome Hughes: Hughes tried to tackle the Roosters’ James Tedesco in the second half of Melbourne’s match with the Roosters. Sadly, Hughes fell in a strange way and hurt his shoulder badly. The Storm’s medical staff helped him off the field, and he looked like he was in pain.
- Dislocated Shoulder: Fox League confirmed that Hughes had a dislocated shoulder. They tried to put it back in place, but when that didn’t work, they called an ambulance. Hughes was sent to the hospital for more care.
- Immediate Effect on the Game: Hughes got hurt when the Storm were down by two points, and soon after, Lindsay Collins scored a try to give the Roosters a bigger lead. It looked like Melbourne’s chances of winning the premiership were in doubt.
The Effect on Melbourne’s Chances of Winning the Premiership
- A Major Blow Hughes’ injury happens at a very important time in the season. The Storm’s chances of winning the NRL Finals have been hurt as there is only a month and a half left. It’s a huge blow to lose their star halfback, especially since some key players are already out.
- Ryan Papenhuyzen, the Storm’s fullback, was already off with a calf injury. Also, Cameron Munster, the five-eighth, couldn’t play because of personal reasons. Melbourne’s spine is now even more weak because Hughes is hurt.
A Miracle Needed
The Melbourne Storm showed their strength by beating the Roosters 34-30 in a tough match, even though they had a setback.
- Harry Grant’s Heroics: The Storm’s saviour was Harry Grant, a hooker from Queensland and Australia. He scored a try and helped set up two more, one of which was the game-winning try by prop Stefano Utoikamanu.
- Melbourne’s Resilience: The Storm took advantage of a big mistake by the Roosters, even though they were behind and lost their best halfback. Daniel Tupou missed a chance to achieve a try, and Melbourne swiftly gained the lead and held it until the final whistle.
Next Steps and Replacement
- What Jonah Pezet Does: Since Hughes will be out for quite a while, Melbourne will probably turn to young half Jonah Pezet to take his place. This is a big problem for the team because Pezet’s addition puts more pressure on the new player at such an important time in the season.
- Cameron Munster’s Return: The Storm are also waiting to hear when Cameron Munster will be able to start training again. This will affect their plans for the next few weeks.
The Dally M Medalist Is Not Here
- What Jahrome Hughes did: Hughes has been a big part of Melbourne’s success in recent years since he is the current Dally M Medal winner. Not having him on the team makes it weaker and makes people wonder if they can play well in the finals without one of their best players.
- The Storm have a tough road ahead. They will have to work hard to make it through the finals without Hughes, but with players like Grant and Pezet stepping up, Melbourne will hope to get through this tough time.
Missed Chances for the Roosters
It was clear that Melbourne was having troubles with injuries and other problems, but the Roosters also had their own problems.
- Daniel Tupou’s Missed Try: The Roosters could have made it 34-28, but Daniel Tupou dropped a chance to score a try. Melbourne was able to take advantage of this mistake and turn the game around.
- Sandon Smith’s Head Knock: The Roosters also lost playmaker Sandon Smith after he hit heads with teammate Salesi Foketi. Smith’s injury made it even harder for the Roosters to win the game.
Melbourne Storm – What’s Next
Melbourne’s main goal now that Hughes is hurt is to get better and learn to live without their star halfback.
- Rehabilitation and Recovery: Hughes is expected to have scans to find out how bad the injury is, and he may be able to recover in three to six weeks. If the injury is bad enough, he might be out for a lot longer, which would probably mean he wouldn’t be able to play for the rest of the season.
- Next Steps for the Team: Craig Bellamy and the rest of Melbourne’s coaching staff will have to come up with out how to deal with Hughes’ absence. They will also have to keep an eye on how other important players, like Papenhuyzen and Munster, are doing.
A Season on the Line – The End
The Storm’s chances of winning the 2025 NRL Premiership rely on how effectively they can deal with the loss of important players like Jahrome Hughes. Melbourne will have to rely on the depth and talent of their squad to get through difficult situations and stay competitive in the finals. They showed how tough they are by beating the Roosters, but things are getting harder for them without their star playmaker.
