Melbourne have landed the huge signature of Dally M Medal winner Jahrome Hughes who has agreed to extending his tenure at the club but Queensland captain Cameron Munster and rising star Jonah Pezet could be heading out the door.
Hughes is inking a new deal until the end of 2030 which will keep the injured halfback out of the clutches of expansion sides Perth Bears and PNG.
But his decision is set to trigger a request for a release from the manager of young playmaker Jonah Pezet, who has a clause in his contract to become a free agent if Hughes re-signs at the Storm.
Munster’s situation is being closely monitored by Perth with foundation coach Mal Meninga keen to make the Maroons star the cornerstone of the new franchise, according to a NewsCorp report.
The 30-year-old dual premiership winner is under contract until the end of next season and is unable to negotiate with rival teams until November 1 unless he successfully requests permission from Melbourne.
Hughes is out until the finals after injuring his shoulder last Thursday in the win over the Roosters and Tyran Wishart has declared he is ready to wear the No.7 jersey, adamant Melbourne’s title hopes won’t dwindle with the first-choice halfback sidelined.
The Storm will decide on Tuesday how to cover for Hughes for the rest of the regular season, after he dislocated his shoulder against Sydney Roosters.
Wishart appears the most likely option, having become Melbourne’s Mr Fix It in recent years and filling in several spots in the spine and backline.
Pezet would loom as the other alternative, albeit with the 22-year-old in the midst of a steady return from last year’s ACL rupture.
Hughes is close to the hardest man to replace in Melbourne’s team, with the Kiwi halfback the Storm’s chief organiser in a star-studded spine.
Jahrome Hughes leaves the field injured. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
But while Wishart and Munster both tend to be run-first playmakers, the younger playmaker insisted the pair could make it work together in the halves.
“We’re naturally probably both runners,” Wishart said. “But Munster, he’s really good at organising as well. Obviously when Hughes is there, he just does most of it.
“And I didn’t mind doing it (last week) as well when I had to.
“The more you train with someone, the more games you get together, you work out a combination. If they do go that way, I’d love to partner with Munny in the halves.”
Wishart had his best patch of football last year for the Storm, first filling in for Hughes for two weeks and then Munster when the five eighths suffered a serious groin injury.
If he was to be given the No.7 jersey for the next six weeks until finals, a similar chance would exist.
“Naturally it’s always a good thing playing game after game in the same position,” Wishart said.
“You form combinations. I enjoy doing that.
“With our full-strength team, I know my role is that 14. I do what I can to play my best there.
“But obviously, if I can notch a few games back to back, hopefully I’ll keep improving my footy.”
Third-placed Melbourne’s effort to come back and beat the Roosters last week with Hughes off the field could prove crucial, as they fight for a top-two finish.
That would allow the Storm to remain in Melbourne until grand final week if they keep winning.
In the worst-case scenario a drop in form would leave the Storm at risk of dropping out of the top four, with a brutal run home ahead of the finals.
But Wishart rejected any suggestion Melbourne were out of the race because of Hughes’ injury.
“Honestly, people can say what they want … We wouldn’t pay too much attention to that,” Wishart said.
“We know what we can do. Our team probably isn’t based off too many individuals. That’s our main strength.
“But as long as we believe in ourselves, I think we can definitely do it.”
Dodd wants to prove he’s no dud
A defiant Lewis Dodd insists he still has the desire and belief to be a long-term NRL halfback, despite admitting his confidence has taken a hit in a tough first year at South Sydney.
Dodd started in the halves for just the second time this season in the Rabbitohs’ 14-12 loss to Cronulla on Saturday, labelling it a “bittersweet” night in Gosford.
Souths will have regular No.7 Jamie Humphreys back available from concussion on Friday night against Brisbane, meaning Dodd’s hope for a third start could hinge on Jack Wighton’s judiciary case.
Wighton on Monday opted to fight his three-match shoulder-charge ban, risking a fourth game on the sidelines following the head clash with Cronulla’s Toby Rudolf.
If Wighton is banned, it is possible Dodd could finally have a long run in the halves after spending most of 2025 in NSW Cup.
Signed before Wayne Bennett’s appointment as coach last May, Dodd’s three-year deal worth close to $2 million has been one of the main talking points of 2025.
Lewis Dodd. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)
The Englishman lost the Rabbitohs’ No.7 jersey for round one when suspended for a high tackle in the Charity Shield, effectively handing the job to Humphreys.
In the five months since, Dodd has started just twice for Souths and had three games off the bench for a total of 213 minutes in the NRL.
That has prompted questions over Dodd’s future at the Rabbitohs, and whether he will see out his contract or potentially head back to the Super League at year’s end.
But regardless, the 23-year-old is adamant he still wanted to make it as an NRL halfback. “I’ve come over here for one reason, and that’s to be a halfback in the NRL,” Dodd said.
“Even when there’s days that (my confidence has) withered or it seems a bit lower than others, the feeling’s never gone. That’s what I want to do.”
Dodd had little chance to impress against Cronulla on Saturday, but kicked well as South Sydney played almost the entire game out of their own end.
A Super League and World Club Challenge title-winning halfback at St Helens, Dodd admitted his confidence had taken a hit.
“I think at some stages it might have done. I’d be lying if I said it hadn’t,” Dodd said. “I am human. Obviously some stuff does affect you, but I’ve got a job to do.
“I didn’t think everything was going to go my own way. But I knew what I had to do. I’ve had pretty clear instructions from Wayne. The people around the club that you see every day, they probably get you through it more than I’ve probably let on or acknowledged with them.
“Without them it would have been a lot more difficult. It’s been tough, but that’s part of football as well. That’s what you want to do it for.”
Dodd also insisted he would emerge from 2025 better as a result. “It’s obviously not been the ideal, how you plan it from day one,” Dodd said.
“But I also wouldn’t change a thing. You learn things about yourself that you wouldn’t learn if it did go your way. I’ve had to become better as a player. I’ve had to become better as a person.
“Nothing’s given, you’ve got to earn it. I think that’s the best way it can be. Because you feel like you deserve to be out there.”
with AAP
