Kiwi with big boots to fill
After spending the last two years learning from one of the greatest fullbacks to play the game, Jahrome Hughes has put his hand up to fill the sizeable hole left by Billy Slater’s retirement at the Melbourne Storm. And Hughes is hoping his shock selection in the Kiwis will help him on his way. It’s been a breakthrough season for the 24-year-old Wellington-born utility, who made 11 starts for the Storm, and was on stand-by for the NRL grand final before Slater was cleared of a shoulder charge by the judiciary. Even then, there was no-one more surprised than the man himself when he heard his name read out in Michael Maguire’s national squad earlier this month. ‘‘There was an extended squad named earlier and I only found out about that on Facebook or when someone rang me,’’ Hughes said. ‘‘That was pretty amazing and obviously I didn’t expect to make the tour squad. But when Michael rang me on the Monday after the grand final and he told me I was in, it was a crazy feeling and words couldn’t describe it. I feel very humbled and privileged to be in this position.’’ While Hughes has only made a total of 17 NRL appearances, it has been a long road to a Kiwis call-up. Many would have expected it to come much earlier when he made his first-grade debut for the Titans at just 18 in 2013. But he had to wait three years for another shot as the harsh realities of life in the NRL became apparent. Hughes, who had moved to the Gold Coast aged 13 to live with his mother, was released by the Titans at the end of 2014 and spent the next season playing Queensland Cup in Townsville. Refusing to give up, Hughes went on to make the competition’s team of the year and was picked up by the Cowboys in 2016, when he finally made his second NRL appearance. By that time, Hughes was on Melbourne’s radar and he then made the call that would change his career. ‘‘The Storm [approached] when I was at the Cowboys and it was a tough decision, but with the calibre of players and coaches down there, it didn’t take long to realise that I made the right one,’’ he said. ‘‘Having the likes of Craig Bellamy and Cameron Smith around is massive and I’m trying to stay there as long as I can.’’ After playing four games in 2017, Hughes played an important role this year filling in at fullback and the halves, as the Storm reached a third consecutive grand final. Bellamy struggled to leave him out of the side at times as he impressed with his natural football skills, game awareness and speed. With Slater bringing his illustrious 15-year career to an end last month, a spot has opened up in the Storm backline and Hughes, who recently re-signed until the end of 2021, is seen as the frontrunner to replace him. Slater was more than generous in passing on his knowledge, but in such a successful system, Hughes knows nothing is guaranteed. ‘‘He’s always been there to lend a helping hand every day at training and even on game day, at halftime he’s there to give me pointers. ‘‘There is a spot there but there’s a few young guys who are going to be battling out for it, which is good. You always want that sort of pressure, you don’t want to be handed that jersey. ‘‘So when pre-season comes I’m going to have to put my foot down and try and take it.’’ Hughes was named 18th man for the Kiwis’ first test against England in Hull today. Maguire sees him as cover for the halves and while Hughes is more at home in the No 1 jersey, he is confident of filling whatever role is required.