Manager reveals 'homesick' Hughes almost quit Storm

Jahrome Hughes' manager has made the shock revelation that but for the outbreak of COVID in 2019, the newly-crowned Dally M Medallist would now be a Warrior. Hughes, who deservedly took out the award by one point from Roosters fullback James Tedesco on Wednesday night, joined the Storm in 2017 but after a couple of seasons was feeling homesick. "Jahrome felt it was time to go home and the Warriors offered him $1 million, which was big money for a halfback four or five years ago," Tas Bartlett of PSM management told Wide World of Sports. "But COVID came in and prevented us from making the trip. "Basically, the Warriors couldn't show him the love. We had a couple of Zoom chats but it wasn't the same - and he decided to stay in Melbourne." The 29-year-old Hughes is a great lesson to all young players about fighting back from adversity. He made his debut for the Titans in 2013… and was sacked after one game. The classy halfback floated around park footy for a few seasons before being picked up by the Cowboys in 2016… and was again sacked after one game. He tried his luck at the Storm the following year, started at fullback, before being moved to No.7, where he has developed into one of the most polished playmakers in modern football.

Jahrome Hughes' $6m rejection of Dolphins comes to light after 'rumblings' of move with wife

Details have emerged about how Jahrome Hughes spurned interest from the Dolphins and Broncos to re-sign with the Melbourne Storm, including a monster $6 million offer from Wayne Bennett. Hughes has been the best player in the NRL this season and appears odds-on to win his first Dally M medal. The Kiwi halfback stepped up for the Storm in the absence of halves partner Cameron Munster in the middle of the season, and led Craig Bellamy's side to the minor premierships. But it could have been a very different story had he not rejected the Broncos and Dolphins to take less money at the Storm. According to the Courier Mail, Bennett offered Hughes a whopping $6 million to join the Dolphins, but he sacrificed around $2.4 million to stay in Melbourne. The Broncos had also shown interest in signing the Kiwi halfback, and Brisbane great Corey Parker revealed 'rumblings' earlier this year that he wanted to return to Queensland to be closer to he and his wife's family. Hughes played one game for the Gold Coast Titans in 2013, and one more for North Queensland in 2016. He was reportedly offered to the Wests Tigers and Dragons for $180,000 in 2016, before joining the Storm on just $150,000.