LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Storm Signs All Good for Premiership Push
Melbourne Storm faces a setback as standout centre Jack Howarth will be sidelined for several weeks due to a groin injury sustained before the impressive victory over the Brisbane Broncos. This comes as the team prepares for the possibility of star halfback Jahrome Hughes being unavailable due to a shoulder injury.
In light of Hughes's uncertain condition, the Storm have activated their contingency plan by utilizing utility Tyran Wishart and rising young half Jonah Pezet to cover the gap left by Hughes. Wishart showcased an impressive performance at halfback for the first half of the match, while Pezet stepped in for the final thirty minutes, contributing significantly to the team's commanding 22-2 win at AAMI Park.
Craig Bellamy, the Storm's coach, indicated there is no immediate urgency to rush Hughes back into action, especially given Wishart's commendable display. However, Bellamy expressed the desire for Hughes to gain match fitness ahead of the finals.
"I don't think we're any wiser than we were last week," Bellamy remarked regarding Hughes's recovery timeline. "He seems to be coming on pretty well, and the physios are happy with the way he's coming on, so hopefully we'll get him back sooner rather than later."
"I'd just love to see him play a game before the finals to be quite honest, so we'll just see how that goes," he added, reflecting on the importance of Hughes's return as the finals approach.