Melbourne Storm have been dealt a huge blow on the eve of their Friday night blockbuster semi-final against the Roosters with star halfback Jahrome Hughes “unlikely” to play.
Hughes did not train with the main playing group on Thursday and while Storm coach Craig Bellamy refused to rule him out, he conceded he was racing the clock to be fit.
The club are remaining tight-lipped on the exact nature of the injury.
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“(Hughes) done a little bit of running this morning, but we‘ll just see how he pulls up,” Bellamy told the media on Thursday.
“To be honest, he‘s probably unlikely, but we’ll just see how he pulls up this afternoon after the run.”
Storm utility Tyran Wishart, who has filled in for Melbourne across numerous positions during the season, is the most likely replacement in the halves after originally being named as a reserve for the match.
Hooker Harry Grant is another option to partner Cameron Munster in the halves, with Wishart replacing Grant at hooker.
“He (Wishart) done most of the training there (on Thursday), but we’ve also got a couple of other options we can use,” Bellamy explained.
“There’s obviously a bit of shuffling going on.
“Whether the less shuffling, the better, or the more shuffling the better, but we‘ve got a plan that hopefully we’ll be able to stick to.”
The Storm suffered a horror 26-0 qualifying-final loss to the Broncos last week, with the defeat made worse by the broken ankle suffered by fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen and winger Xavier Coates also injuring his ankle.
“I think everyone’s been in touch with him (Papenhuyzen),” Bellamy said.
“It was a bit flattening, to be quite honest, for a couple of days.
“We all feel for him, what he’s been through and what he’s about to go through again. That hasn’t been easy.”
The Roosters have their own injury concerns in the outside backs with centres Joseph Manu (hamstring) and Billy Smith (jaw), plus wingers Joseph-Aukuso Suaalli (concussion) and Daniel Tupou (knee) all missing from the game against the Storm.
“A lot of people have been talking about who’s not there, so we’ve spent all week talking about who is there and their qualities and what they bring,” Roosters coach Trent Robinson said.
“They can bring their strengths which are sometimes in some areas better than the two Joeys (Manu and Suaalli).
“It’s not about what’s not there, it’s about what is there.”
Robinson has made a huge call with Paul Momirovski, who has only played two games this season, named at centre after suffering a shoulder injury in round nine that required surgery.
Momirovski only returned to training in July, however Robinson said he has full confidence in the 27-year-old.
“There’s always been confidence in Mommers, that’s why he’s back here,” Robinson said.
“He’s a grand final winner and a big game player for us.
“I would have liked more games for him with the shoulder injury he’s had, but I’m always confident in Mommers and what he’s capable of.
“With the shoulder surgery, he’s done a lot of running and opposition work against us. We’ve been pushing the strength and all that to the point that he’d be able to get selected.
“This was the first week that he got ticked off (by the medical staff). Two weeks ago they highlighted this week to get ready to play again, so it was timely.”
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