Cameron Munster calls out Nathan Cleary detail in huge statement about Jahrome Hughes
Hughes is considered one of the favourites to claim this year's Dally M Medal.
Melbourne five-eighth Cameron Munster says Jahrome Hughes should be spoken about in the same way as champion Penrith No.7 Nathan Cleary and believes his Storm teammate "deserves" to win the Dally M Medal in 2024. Hughes has been practically an ever-present for the Storm this season, with Craig Bellamy's side leading the NRL competition despite a number of their biggest stars being sidelined for large chunks of the year.
Munster has battled an ongoing groin issue brought on by an imbalance in his hips and admitted recently that he'll have to undergo surgery in the off-season to fix the problem. Superstar fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen has also been sidelined with injury but the Storm have been able to cope without their best players and Hughes is a major factor behind their relentless consistency.
The Kiwi international has struck up a lethal partnership with try-scoring Storm back-rower Eliesa Katoa and his organisational play, kicking game and attacking class have come to the fore in 2024. With Hughes enjoying arguably the best season of his career to date and the Storm flying high on the top of the ladder, it's little wonder the Melbourne No.7 is regarded as one of the favourites to claim the Dally M Medal as the best player of the season.
It would be a stunning feat for the 29-year-old Hughes, who has consistently been one of the game's premium playmakers for several seasons now. However, the Storm halfback is not usually spoken about as much as rival No.7's such as Cleary, Mitchell Moses and Daly Cherry-Evans, who all have the advantage of featuring in State of Origin series for their respective states - unlike the Kiwi star.
Cherry-Evans has led the Maroons to several Origin series wins, while Moses starred for NSW as the Blues claimed the Shield this year. Cleary of course has three premierships to his name with Penrith and guided the Kangaroos to a World Cup triumph in 2023, but is almost certainly out of Dally M calculations this season after missing so much of it because of his hamstring injury.
Cleary showed why he is considered the best halfback in the game with a three-try effort against the Dragons last weekend, in what was just his second game back. But Munster says Hughes is on a similar level to the Panthers halfback and would be a worthy winner of the game's highest individual honour in 2024, considering many critics had written off the Storm's chances this season.
Cameron Munster lauds Jahrome Hughes after superb season
"There was a lot of speculation on whether we were obviously a top-four side, let alone being in contention for the premiership," Munster said. "We keep proving those critics wrong, whether that's in Sydney or Queensland, and we're playing some good footy, playing confident footy, and that's down to Jahrome Hughes.
"There's a lot of word around town that he's in line for the Dally M and he really deserves it. Unfortunately he doesn't get the accolades around rugby league but he should be up there with Nathan Cleary." The Storm five-eighth - who returned off the bench in last week's win over Parramatta - has been named to start at No.6 alongside Hughes for Saturday's meeting with St George Illawarra.
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Munster could still be shifted to the bench to make way for impressive back-up Tyran Wishart closer to kick-off but says he's been preparing to start and doesn't want to disrupt the momentum that his teammates have been building. "I'm wearing the No.6 but Craig (Bellamy) keeps his cards close to his chest and hasn't given me an indication if I'm starting," Munster said. The team has been playing good footy without me, I don't want to ruin that cohesion."
with AAP
