In a dramatic match on Thursday night, Jahrome Hughes played through the second half of the Melbourne Storm’s 30-24 victory against the Penrith Panthers with a broken hand. Following the game, the Storm announced that their star halfback requires surgery, but he is only expected to miss two games.
Hughes sustained his injury early in the match, likely during a collision with Nathan Cleary in the 8th minute, yet continued to participate actively throughout the match. The Storm confirmed the injury details through a statement, revealing that scans showed the extent of the damage.
While Hughes persevered, the same could not be said for Cleary, who was knocked out during the game and will be sidelined for the Panthers’ upcoming clash against the Rabbitohs. The match at AAMI Park was marred by injuries, with Hughes being one of several players affected as both teams prepare for their next fixtures.
In addition to Hughes, the Storm faces other injury concerns. Nick Meaney has been ruled out for at least a month due to a facial fracture sustained in a head-on collision with teammate Nelson Asofa-Solomona. Following the match, Asofa-Solomona entered concussion protocols after failing a head injury assessment, putting his availability for the next game in jeopardy.
In brighter news for the Storm, Grant Anderson has been cleared of significant injury after he went down with a suspected knee issue during the match. However, the timeline for Will Warbrick’s return from a concussion remains uncertain, adding to the team’s existing injury woes.
As the Storm gears up for their next match against the Dragons, both teams are navigating a challenging injury landscape, with Hughes and several others now in recovery.