Melbourne Storm have soared atop the premiership ladder despite the absence of four key players, with Billy Slater attributing the club’s success to the leadership of star half Jahrome Hughes.
Craig Bellamy’s men completed a hard-fought 16-6 victory over a determined Raiders side on Saturday, with the tough conditions dampened by the loss of Maroons star Xavier Coates, who suffered a hamstring injury.
With Cameron Munster, Ryan Papenhuyzen, and Jonah Pezet serving extended stints on the sideline due to injury, Bellamy has been forced to shuffle the backline. Meanwhile, Origin star Harry Grant was also absent for the Storm’s win over the Raiders.
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Speaking on Nine’s The Billy Slater Podcast, Slater discussed the extensive list of talent present on the sideline during the Storms’ recent battle and noted the future success of young prospects.
“They’re doing a good job the Melbourne Storm,” the Storm great said.
“If you saw the coach’s box, there were just as many players in the box as there were on the sideline waiting to get on the field. They had Cameron Munster, Harry Grant, Ryan Papenhuyzen, and Jonah Pezet.
“(Melbourne) had a fair bit of ball so the Raiders did a great job to hold them out for a long period of time.
“Some quality players sitting in the coach’s box… (but) the class just prevailed.
Nick Meaney, Jonah Pezet, Harry Grant and Cameron Munster caught on camera in Storm’s coach’s box. Getty
“Craig Bellamy has done a wonderful job with some of the younger guys coming in, with Grant Anderson and Jack Howarth. They are all filling in a position and they are all doing a great job.”
However, the superb playmaking skills of halfback Jahrome Hughes was the fundamental element that Slater believes is holding the team together through the Origin period.
“Jahrome Hughes is just, he’s the glue to that team at the moment,” Slater said.
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“He is one of those key position players that was out on the field and I thought he was super.
“The development of the club is in good hands but I thought Jahrome Hughes was the man, controlled things, and it was a tough old game.
“It was very breezy conditions down in Victoria [but] they just keep climbing that ladder.
“Now they’ve got that buffer of two wins at the top of the ladder, they’re sitting pretty.”