5 hours ago
8
Jahrome Hughes had feared his season was over after he broke his arm during a game against the Brisbane Broncos in Round 27.
Agonisingly, it came just two months after the 2024 Dally M Medallist dislocated his shoulder during his side’s Round 21 clash against the Sydney Roosters, sidelining him for 22 days.
He bounced back, keen to help Melbourne reach the 2024 NRL Grand Final and avenge the heartache of their finals defeat by Penrith a year ago, but 30 minutes into his injury return, the 31-year-old suffered another agonising injury.
The halfback bravely stepped up to tackle a storming Brendan Piakura, but immediately looked in trouble after smashing his arm into the rampaging second-row forward.
Storm boss Craig Bellamy admitted that fielding his star playmaker so soon after his shoulder injury was a big risk, with the coach admitting that he too thought Hughes’ season was over.
GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING
Jahrome Hughes has opened up on the horror broken arm he suffered earlier this season (Pictured right with his partner Molly, left)
Hughes has endured an agonising end to his 2025 season, with a dislocated shoulder and fractured arm having sidelined him for extended periods
But the footy star isn't letting the injuries get him down, and says he's got a busy couple of months coming up as he and Molly prepare for the birth of their first baby
Hughes went to consult a surgeon and it became immediately apparent that he had suffered a broken arm, with surgeons stating that the normal ‘healing period’ for such a break is around 12 weeks.
‘I thought so (that my season was over) after the Broncos game,’ Hughes said.
‘I thought I was no chance to play again but I got surgery the day after.’
But interestingly, Hughes was back on the footy pitch a mere three weeks after undergoing the knife, returning for his side’s preliminary final against Cronulla.
‘The surgeon and the medical staff said I was a chance to play again, and once I heard that, I did everything I could (to get back),’ Hughes, who played 79 minutes of that match, said.
‘Heaps of people were saying wrist, but I don’t know where they got that information from.’
Hughes has now lifted the lid on the severity of the break in his arm, sharing a photo of himself sitting in a hospital bed following a surgery, while his partner Molly, sits by his bedside.
Reflecting on what’s been a tough season for the Storm half, Hughes also published a shot of an X-ray showcasing just how badly broken his forearm was.
The image paints a remarkable picture of the footy star’s toughness, battling back in record time after having several plates and screws inserted into his arm following the horror injury.
Hughes also took to Instagram to share a photo of an X-Ray of his fractured arm, showing that he suffered a clean break during his side's Round 27 clash vs the Broncos
Hughes underwent surgery on the arm break, and remarkably within three weeks he was back on the footy field
The Storm halfback had admitted that he feared his season was over after suffering the break
Hughes said despite the injury woe he was 'grateful' for the season he has had, adding that this year has been a 'test'
There was also a chance, per The Sydney Morning Herald, that the footy star, who scored eight tries across 20 matches this season, could have suffered a recurrence of that injury during his comeback against the Sharks.
Despite the pain of multiple long injury lay-offs this season, Hughes appears to be looking on the bright side.
‘More surgeries than tries this year,’ the footy star captioned his Instagram post, adding a teary-eyed emoji and a laughing-face emoji.
‘But always grateful to be in the position I am in. This year tested me and reminded me what really matters.
‘Thankful for everyone who was a part of the journey this year.
‘Fans, friends and most importantly, family.’
Many from the footy world, including Josh Addo-Carr, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Sualauvi Faalogo, wished Hughes a speedy recovery.
Hughes and his wife, Molly, who were married back in December 2022, unveiled some very exciting news to their followers in May, with the happy couple announcing they were expecting their first baby.
He added that he has had 'more surgeries than he has scored tries' this season, but is excited about becoming a dad
Hughes was seen returning to the footy pitch wearing a thick protective brace around his arm
‘Footy’s over for another year but no time for rest,’ the Storm halfback added.
His wife Molly has also taken to Instagram in recent days to show off a snap of her baby bump, writing: ‘We baby ready.’
Hughes, meanwhile, joins a group of rugby league tough men who have fought through the pain barrier to return to action much earlier than expected.
Back in 1997, Andrew Johns broke three ribs during finals and was admitted to hospital in Grand Final week. It came after he suffered a punctured lung after an injection didn’t go to plan. Despite the drama, Johns went on to lead Newcastle to victory against Manly in the Grand Final.
The severity of Cooper Cronk’s shoulder injury in 2018 was kept under wraps before the Roosters took on Melbourne in the NRL Grand Final.
In fact, the halfback had fractured his shoulder blade one week earlier, but battled through the injury to help his side defeat the Storm.
In 2021, Penrith star Dylan Edwards sustained a fractured foot during finals but still turned out to help the Panthers defeat the Rabbitohs.
