Jahrome Hughes' $6m rejection of Dolphins comes to light after 'rumblings' of move with wife
The Melbourne Storm halfback sacrificed $2.4 million to stay put.
Details have emerged about how Jahrome Hughes spurned interest from the Dolphins and Broncos to re-sign with the Melbourne Storm, including a monster $6 million offer from Wayne Bennett. Hughes has been the best player in the NRL this season and appears odds-on to win his first Dally M medal.
The Kiwi halfback stepped up for the Storm in the absence of halves partner Cameron Munster in the middle of the season, and led Craig Bellamy's side to the minor premierships. But it could have been a very different story had he not rejected the Broncos and Dolphins to take less money at the Storm.
According to the Courier Mail, Bennett offered Hughes a whopping $6 million to join the Dolphins, but he sacrificed around $2.4 million to stay in Melbourne. The Broncos had also shown interest in signing the Kiwi halfback, and Brisbane great Corey Parker revealed 'rumblings' earlier this year that he wanted to return to Queensland to be closer to he and his wife's family.
Hughes played one game for the Gold Coast Titans in 2013, and one more for North Queensland in 2016. He was reportedly offered to the Wests Tigers and Dragons for $180,000 in 2016, before joining the Storm on just $150,000.
'Rumblings' that Jahrome Hughes and wife wanted QLD return
In April, Parker said he'd heard rumours that Hughes and his wife were keen on a return to Queensland. “I’m hearing rumblings that one superstar in the game wants to come home to Queensland and be with the family,” Parker said on SEN Radio. “Whether that’s at the end of his contract or not, that remains to be seen. That player is Jahrome Hughes.
“I know his wife is from the Gold Coast and at this stage it’s just rumblings that I’m hearing. It remains to be seen if it’s before his term of contract or not, but watch this space. We’ll just see what happens or unfolds in this space moving forward.”
The Storm immediately moved to open contract extension talks with Hughes, who remained at the Storm on $900,000 per season. His agent Tas Bartlett admitted to the Courier Mail that Hughes seriously considered the Dolphins and Broncos' offers.
“He certainly considered the Broncos and Dolphins because it’s close to his home on the Gold Coast where Jahrome grew up," he said. “Jahrome could have earned more money if he went elsewhere, but he is a loyal guy and he is appreciative of what the Storm did for him."
Cam Smith smacks down claims about Jahrome Hughes leaving
In response to Parker's claims, Storm legend Cameron Smith said he'd seen no indication that Hughes wanted to leave Melbourne. “Most times the performance is a dead giveaway on the field and I reckon he’s been one of the best, if not, their best player this year,” Smith said on SEN.
“The form line’s not giving too much away about him being unsettled. I completely understand the thinking of wanting to be closer to family as far as wanting to start their own family and being around support, because I lived down there for 20 years when I started my own family and it’s difficult, it’s challenging.
“I ran into him the other night…he seems pretty settled. I know his wife as well, caught up with them at the start of the year actually and they seemed really happy."
