LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
In a devastating blow for the New Zealand Kiwis ahead of the 2024 Pacific Championships, star player Jahrome Hughes has been sidelined with a neck injury.
The news, reported by zerotackle.com, comes hot on the heels of his stellar performance in the NRL Grand Final for the Melbourne Storm.
Coach Stacey Jones expressed his sympathy for Hughes, who will be sorely missed in the upcoming tournament.
As the Kiwis scramble to find a replacement, the potential halves pairing of Kodi Nikorima from The Dolphins and Phoenix Crossland from the Newcastle Knights is in the cards.
Another option could be Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad of the New Zealand Warriors.
With the Pacific Championships looming, the Kiwis will need to regroup and rally together in the face of this setback.
Time will tell how they fare against their tough rivals Australia and Tonga, but as they say in the world of Rugby League, it's not over until the final whistle blows.