Storm star in line for shock return ahead of NRL finals
Melissa Woods |
Melbourne could get a major boost in their quest for a top-two ladder spot, with injured star halfback Jahrome Hughes a growing chance to appear before the NRL finals.
Hughes trained away from the main squad as the Storm finalised their preparation to host Brisbane at AAMI Park on Thursday night, but didn’t appear in any discomfort.
The 30-year-old dislocated his shoulder against the Sydney Roosters last month.
After avoiding surgery, he was pencilled in to return for Melbourne’s finals campaign.
With five rounds remaining, Storm coach Craig Bellamy didn’t want to nominate a match for the Dally M Medallist to make his return, but hoped he could be back before the end of the regular season.
Melbourne face a tough run into the play-offs, facing Brisbane home and away, Penrith, Canterbury and the Sydney Roosters.
“We hope so, again we’re not quite sure when he’ll get back, but he seems to have come on,” Bellamy said.
“His movements just around the club, he looks like he’s coming on pretty well.
“We don’t want to put a week on him, we’d like him to play before the finals if he can, but at the end of the day we’re not going to take any risks either, so we’ll just see how that goes, and as the finals get closer we’ll see what he can do, what he can’t do, and then go from there.”
Brisbane coach Michael Maguire welcomes Payne Haas back after the power forward missed last round’s romp over South Sydney with a leg infection.
“Unfortunately last week we got that little nick on his leg and it was infected, so we had to look after him and he’s back fine,” Maguire said.
“There’s nothing wrong with Payne, he’s good, he’s healthy, just trained, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
Bellamy left his own firebrand prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona out of the squad, despite his availability after completing a two-game ban.
Asofa-Solomona has had joy in the past ruffling the feathers of the Broncos, but Bellamy said he had an injury setback last week.
“He hurt his groin last week and he didn’t do much training,” the coach said.
“The other guys did a good job last week for us, so that’s where it is.
“We expect him to play Queensland Cup.”
Melbourne boast a formidable record against the Broncos, winning 16 of their past 17 matches, while the Queensland outfit haven’t won at AAMI Park since 2016.
But Brisbane have rediscovered their best form and have won six of their past seven to climb from 11th to sixth, just two points outside the top four
Bellamy said there was plenty on the line for both teams.
“Obviously the finals are getting close and we’re in a pretty good position, and they’d be looking to get in the top four as well,” he said.
“We know the quality of players they’ve got in their team, especially around their spine, they’ve got a lot of pace, they run the ball a lot and with Payne (Haas) leading the forwards, he’s one hell of a player.
“We know they’re going to be up and about for it, but we’d like to think we’re going to be the same.
“It’s an important game for us. Our last home game was a pretty disappointing performance, so hopefully we can play a bit better this week.”
AAP
