Dally M Medal winner Jahrome Hughes’ season could be over in what would be a monumental blow to Melbourne’s hopes of premiership glory.
Despite the mid-game loss of their star playmaker, the Storm were able to stage a late comeback to roll the Roosters 34-30 on Thursday night at Allianz Stadium.
Title favourites with the bookmakers, their chances of going all the way will be significantly reduced if Hughes can’t make it back on the field.
The Roosters’ playoff hopes are hanging by a thread after plunging to 10th after last week’s loss to Cronulla and now slipping further behind the mid-table logjam competing for the last couple of playoff spots.
1. Hughes in agony
Hughes clutched at his left shoulder two minutes into the second half after trying to tackle James Tedesco.
The Kiwi international was immediately grimacing with pain, unable to move as he sat in the middle of the stadium.
There is a possibility he could be back for the finals if he does not need an operation but if he goes under the surgeon’s scalpel, he won’t be sighted again until 2026.
The Storm have a couple of capable of replacement options in Tyran Wishart and Jonah Pezet but neither player is in the class of Hughes.
Maroons skipper Cameron Munster, who missed this match to be with his family following the recent death of his father, will come back into the line-up next Thursday when the Storm visit Parramatta.
Their four-point triumph over the Roosters keeps them in the hunt for the minor premiership or at the least a top-two berth and it would take a dramatic drop-off for them to somehow miss out on the top four even with the Broncos and Panthers surging up the ladder on extended winning streaks.
Jahrome Hughes leaves the field injured. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
2. Roosters stuck in reverse
The Roosters have now lost three of their past four matches to be losing touch with the top eight.
They dropped to 10th last week with their 31-18 loss to Cronulla and just when it looked like they had the Storm’s measure on Thursday night, their defence opened up to repeatedly let the visitors back into the contest.
Their goal-line defence was non-existent at times and the Storm did not have to produce too many tricks to get across the stripe when they ventured into the Roosters’ red zone.
Star half Sam Walker is working his way back into game shape after his comeback from an ACL tear but any hope that his return would catapult them into title contention has all but vanished in the space of the past three weeks.
With away clashes with Manly and the Dolphins followed by a home date with the Bulldogs over the next three weeks, the Roosters’ playoff chances are suddenly looking very bleak.
3. Head clash horrors
It was one of those moments that remind everyone about the brutal nature of rugby league.
Sandon Smith, recalled at five-eighth after Chad Townsend was controversially picked ahead of him last week, threw himself into a desperate tackle on Harry Grant as the Storm skipper set sail for the line in the 27th minute.
Unfortunately for him, so did teammate Salesi Foketi and their heads collided with sickening force as they both put their body on the line.
They both hit the deck in a daze. Smith, clearly the worst affected, was immediately ruled out for the rest of the game with the Roosters doctor delaying Foketi’s HIA because he needed to monitor the young five-eighth.
Foketi was eventually given the all-clear to return in the second half but Smith will miss next Saturday’s crucial clash with Manly at Brookvale although rookie playmaker Hugo Savala should be right to return from a wrist problem.
4. Great attack beats patchy defence
The Storm and Roosters in modern times have been renowned for their defence.
Not this time around. While both teams displayed plenty of skill in attack, their disjointed defensive lines left a lot to be desired.
The Roosters kicked off the tit for tat scoring with Daniel Tupou on the end of a sweep in the fifth minute before Storm prop pounced on a clever Hughes grubber.
Tupou climbed high with a spectacular take to put the hosts back in front before Jack Howarth reduced the gap to two at the 20-minute mark.
Harry Grant got the Storm into the lead before Suia Wong cleaned up a failed bomb defusal for the Roosters to lead 18-16 at the break.
Lindsay Collins revived memories of his Origin try from a high kick to have the Tricolours up by eight but King crossed for his second and Nick Meaney added another to propel the Storm four points in front.
The pendulum swung back to the Sydneysiders when Zach Dockar-Clay benefited from a Mark Nawaqanitawase bat-back with help from Tedesco despite appearing to be in front of the kicker.
But after a Tupou fumble over the line and a missed Meaney penalty to tie up the scores, the Storm clinched a courageous victory when Stefano Utoikamanu charged through from close range off a Grant pass served up to him on a platter.
5. Tupou an all-timer
When debates are held around the bar at the pub, on the hill at the footy or on social media about the greatest wingers of all time, the name Daniel Tupou doesn’t automatically spring to mind.
But it should.
His record over the course of 282 games across 14 seasons is phenomenal.
With his second four-pointer against the Storm he moved to 177 all up, edging ahead of former teammate and current assistant coach Brett Morris.
“I’m just grateful to still be playing and part of this awesome club,” he said as he walked off at half-time with trademark humility.
At 34 he is old for an NRL player but ancient for a winger.
Signed until the end of next season, he is all but certain to become just the second specialist winger after Hazem El Masri to join the 300 club.
He may not have the game-breaking ability of Eric Grothe, the speed of Ken Irvine or the power of Wendell Sailor but Tupou’s achievements at the Roosters place him in legendary status.
The Kick: Bunker botches Teddy call
The Bunker dropped a clanger by clearing Tedesco as being onside for Dockar-Clay’s try with 15 minutes left.
Both feet need to be behind the kicker and replays showed Tedesco was at least half a metre in front of Sam Walker when he launched his kick skyward.
It looked a fait accompli decision to the extent that Johnathan Thurston on Nine commentary was admonishing Tedesco for getting his timing wrong.
But the Bunker confirmed the try to send an already annoyed Craig Bellamy into a cloud of red mist.
Luckily for the Bunker, the shonky call did not ultimately decide the contest but that should not mitigate the fact that it was a poor decision.
