Jahrome Hughes has won the Dally M Medal to kick off Melbourne Storm’s week in Sydney for the NRL grand final on a high.
The halfback came up trumps when he finished one point ahead of Roosters fullback James Tedesco after a final-round cliffhanger where both players claimed the maximum six points.
An emotional Hughes was lost for words in his address and again just moments later when three teammates performed an impromptu haka to celebrate his achievement.
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“It’s quite surreal to be honest, I didn’t think I would ever get the opportunity to win this award,” Hughes said.
“I’ve got butterflies at the moment, it’s kind of weird. I’m so honoured to be able to win it. I’m kind of speechless, to be honest. Sorry.”
Hughes won the 2020 premiership in his first full season as a halfback but has improved out of sight since to lead the Storm to this weekend’s decider.
He joked he did not think there would be a spot for him in the team when Ryan Papenhuyzen first took the No.1 jumper off him in 2019 but paid tribute to Melbourne for the journey since.
“Without that club I wouldn’t be here, I know that for sure,” he said, while also paying tribute to New Zealand for “instilling a lot of confidence” within himself last year to carry into this season.
As the night came to a close, teammate Will Warbrick kicked off an impromptu haka with Joey Tapine and Eli Katoa to celebrate Hughes’s Dally M triumph.
The room fell silent while those watching from home were stunned by the scenes.
“The haka gives you goosebumps every time.. And richly deserved for Jahrome Hughes!” ABC commentator Zane Bojack wrote.
“Think you can see why the Kiwis are so strong at international level at the moment! Lot of love and brotherhood in that squad!”
Another fan said: “Tremendous gesture. You can’t not tear up a touch at not just the haka in general but the respect they have for their compatriot.”
Earlier, Hughes thanked his family for motivating him to stick with rugby league when he endured a three-year gap between his first and second NRL games at Gold Coast and North Queensland respectively.
“There’s been a few times I wasn’t keen to carry on with the rugby league dream when I was younger and they kept me at it,” he said.
“I want to thank them for everything they’ve done.
“My beautiful wife Mol, she’s been with me through it all as well. I definitely wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for her.”
Moments before Hughes received his award, Sydney Roosters star Olivia Kernick won the NRLW Dally M Medal by one point.
“I definitely didn’t expect that,” she said.
“Sort of caught off guard but I think this year the women’s NRL has proven that we’ve produced a really good product and taken the competition to another level. So grateful.”
Kernick paid tribute to her mother as her “No.1 supporter” and coach John Strange for his impact on elevating her game.
