Revamped headline: Jahrome Hughes, Dally M medal winner, confirms selfless intentions during his return attempt
Melbourne Storm's Jahrome Hughes Prepares for Preliminary Final
Jahrome Hughes, the Melbourne Storm's versatile player, is training to potentially feature in the NRL preliminary final, scheduled to take place at AAMI Park. However, his participation is contingent on his fitness and ability to train with the team this week.
Hughes missed Melbourne's qualifying win due to a fractured forearm, an injury sustained after he returned from a dislocated shoulder. Despite the setback, he remains confident about his availability for the preliminary final. However, the final decision will be made by the medical team.
If selected, Hughes has stated that he will put himself forward to play, provided he is fully fit. He expressed apprehension about playing at less than 100%, given the availability of rookie replacement Jonah Pezet, who had a stand-out performance in Hughes' absence. Pezet contributed a try assist, a 40/20, and a try-saving tackle in Melbourne's 26-18 win.
Hughes expressed admiration for Pezet, stating that the club knew he had potential and there was never any worry about his performance. He also voiced his confidence in the Storm's ability to host the winner of the semi-final clash between Canberra and Cronulla.
In a lighter moment, Hughes joked about building bone strength by drinking milk and leaving carb-loading to sumo wrestlers who had flown in from Japan for a function. The sumo wrestlers, known for their athletic prowess, were intimidating to Hughes, and he expressed apprehension about getting involved with sumo wrestling, fearing he would be "tossed around" and it would not be good for him.
Ichinojo Takashi, another retired sumo wrestler, recently won the Emperor's Cup at the 2022 Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament. Hishofuji Hiroki, a retired sumo wrestler, was one of the heaviest in the world, weighing in at 260kg. However, the article does not provide any information about the sumo wrestlers' involvement with the Melbourne Storm or their relationship to Jahrome Hughes.
As the preliminary final approaches, Hughes plans to ramp up his training towards the end of the week. He emphasised that he does not want to be disruptive and may not play if he cannot train with the team this week. He intends to make an early decision on playing in the preliminary final.
Stay tuned for updates on Jahrome Hughes' training and decision-making process regarding the preliminary final.
