Latest news with #DallyMMedallist
7NEWS
4 days ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
North Queensland coach Todd Payten says Queensland must start Tom Dearden in the halves
Melbourne's Jahrome Hughes has stolen the spotlight from his North Queensland opposite Tom Dearden with the Storm halfback orchestrating a commanding 38-14 victory at AAMI Park. All eyes were on Dearden, who is favoured to usurp Daly Cherry-Evans as Queensland's State of Origin No.7 when teams for game two in Perth are announced. But reigning Dally M Medallist Hughes was the stand-out from both teams, scoring two tries and setting up two more as well as nine tackle-busts in one of his best performances of the season. Despite the loss, North Queensland coach Todd Payten says if Queensland want to win the second State of Origin match to level the series, they need to start Dearden in the halves. Cherry-Evans, 36, failed to ignite the Queensland attack in game one in Brisbane, which NSW dominated to win 18-6. And Payten was firm in his belief that the 24-year-old was ready to be picked to wear the No.7 jersey rather than have a bench role for the June 18 match. Dearden has already done the job for the Kangaroos, steering Australia to victory over Tonga in the Pacific Cup final last November, while he also impressed in the Maroons No.6 jumper in the absence of Cameron Munster last year. 'You're asking the wrong person, I know he's ready, it's just not my decision,' Payten said after the Storm match. 'Selfishly, I'd love him to come off the bench, but if they want to win, I'd be putting him in the halves.' Dearden downplayed the selection quandary for Queensland coach Billy Slater, saying he was only focused on the Cowboys. 'I wasn't really looking at it as an audition,' he said. 'I thought like I probably could have been a lot better with helping us with direction and then handing the ball over in the right area, so there's probably a few areas I need to look at from that performance.' Melbourne skipper Harry Grant, who had an uncharacteristically poor Origin outing after being hobbled by a hamstring injury, looked back to his best against North Queensland. 'I had a pretty clear focus of what I needed to work on from that (Origin) game it sort of hurt not being able to play after that, against the Titans, and that was just precautionary with the hamstring,' the hooker said. 'I had a pretty narrow focus and it was pleasing to just get a win for the team and everyone sort of played their role within our game plan.' His Storm teammate Stefano Utoikamanu also put his hand up to replace Mitch Barnett in the NSW squad, with the Warriors prop ruled out for the season with an ACL rupture. Utoikamanu and Keaon Koloamatangi are the favourites to take Barnett's spot with the Melbourne forward named 19th man in the Blues squad for game one when he was on stand-by for an injured Payne Haas. Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy, who is an advisor to the NSW coach Laurie Daley and will join the squad in Perth, said Utoikamanu had pushed his case for selection. 'You think he'd be right up there in the firing line, I think he's a real big chance,' Bellamy said. 'He was really solid, and some of his runs really stood out and I'm sure Laurie will be looking at his defence as well and hopefully for Stef, he'll line up in the next game.'
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
'Special' Hughes performance headlines Cowboys thumping
Melbourne's Jahrome Hughes has stolen the spotlight from his North Queensland opposite Tom Dearden with the Storm halfback orchestrating a commanding 38-14 victory at AAMI Park. All eyes were on Dearden, who is favoured to usurp Daly Cherry-Evans as Queensland's State of Origin No.7 when teams for game two in Perth are announced. But reigning Dally M Medallist Hughes was the stand-out from both teams, scoring two tries and setting up two more as well as nine tackle-busts in one of his best performances of the season. Hughes embraced his running game to keep the Cowboys defence guessing, with Cameron Munster also up to the challenge as the superstar pair marked their 100th NRL game in the Storm halves. Hughes also pulled off a critical strip on Jeremiah Nanai close to the tryline to help his team win consecutive matches for the first time since round six. Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy, who this week signed to stay on in 2027, said Hughes had been battling a number of injuries including a broken hand and neck issues. "He has been playing pretty well, but that was a pretty special effort tonight, it was definitely his best performance this year," Bellamy said. "He's done remarkably well to have played as many games as he's played, with some of the injuries, they're just sort of worn him down a little bit mentally too, not being able to do the things that he's used to doing or is capable of doing. "So he's been really brave for us ... but it looked like he shook off a few of those injuries tonight." Melbourne started with a bang with tries to Eli Katoa and Hughes setting up a 12-0 after 18 minutes. A pin-point cut-out pass from Dearden to winger Jaxson Paulo put the visitors on the scoreboard two minutes later. Melbourne went off the boil and only desperate defence goal-line kept them ahead, with North Queensland dominating territory 68 per cent to 32. Despite that statistic, the Storm made them pay when they got a chance in the 39th minute when a Hughes bomb was dropped cold by fullback Scott Drinkwater. Hughes then collected the spoils in the next set, linking with the rest of the star Melbourne spine for an 18-4 halftime lead. Despite a massive spray by Cowboys coach Todd Payten, Nick Meaney crossed two minutes into the second half after the Melbourne centre ran onto a Hughes grubber. The talented Cowboys attack finally kicked into gear and after Drinkwater saved a third Hughes try he scored one of his own after a Reece Robson dart from dummy-half. Robert Derby was in two minutes later to close the margin to 10 points but Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona stalled the Cowboys' momentum when he dragged four defenders over the line. Payten said his team beat themselves. "It's just pure disappointment, we didn't make a good team earn anything," he said. "When you crack so easily on your tryline, and then just give them leg up after leg up with tackle four or five penalties, play one, two errors, so it probably should have been more, to be fair. "It's frustrating and burning inside ... I hate when we beat ourselves, and I felt like tonight we did exactly that." Melbourne's Jahrome Hughes has stolen the spotlight from his North Queensland opposite Tom Dearden with the Storm halfback orchestrating a commanding 38-14 victory at AAMI Park. All eyes were on Dearden, who is favoured to usurp Daly Cherry-Evans as Queensland's State of Origin No.7 when teams for game two in Perth are announced. But reigning Dally M Medallist Hughes was the stand-out from both teams, scoring two tries and setting up two more as well as nine tackle-busts in one of his best performances of the season. Hughes embraced his running game to keep the Cowboys defence guessing, with Cameron Munster also up to the challenge as the superstar pair marked their 100th NRL game in the Storm halves. Hughes also pulled off a critical strip on Jeremiah Nanai close to the tryline to help his team win consecutive matches for the first time since round six. Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy, who this week signed to stay on in 2027, said Hughes had been battling a number of injuries including a broken hand and neck issues. "He has been playing pretty well, but that was a pretty special effort tonight, it was definitely his best performance this year," Bellamy said. "He's done remarkably well to have played as many games as he's played, with some of the injuries, they're just sort of worn him down a little bit mentally too, not being able to do the things that he's used to doing or is capable of doing. "So he's been really brave for us ... but it looked like he shook off a few of those injuries tonight." Melbourne started with a bang with tries to Eli Katoa and Hughes setting up a 12-0 after 18 minutes. A pin-point cut-out pass from Dearden to winger Jaxson Paulo put the visitors on the scoreboard two minutes later. Melbourne went off the boil and only desperate defence goal-line kept them ahead, with North Queensland dominating territory 68 per cent to 32. Despite that statistic, the Storm made them pay when they got a chance in the 39th minute when a Hughes bomb was dropped cold by fullback Scott Drinkwater. Hughes then collected the spoils in the next set, linking with the rest of the star Melbourne spine for an 18-4 halftime lead. Despite a massive spray by Cowboys coach Todd Payten, Nick Meaney crossed two minutes into the second half after the Melbourne centre ran onto a Hughes grubber. The talented Cowboys attack finally kicked into gear and after Drinkwater saved a third Hughes try he scored one of his own after a Reece Robson dart from dummy-half. Robert Derby was in two minutes later to close the margin to 10 points but Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona stalled the Cowboys' momentum when he dragged four defenders over the line. Payten said his team beat themselves. "It's just pure disappointment, we didn't make a good team earn anything," he said. "When you crack so easily on your tryline, and then just give them leg up after leg up with tackle four or five penalties, play one, two errors, so it probably should have been more, to be fair. "It's frustrating and burning inside ... I hate when we beat ourselves, and I felt like tonight we did exactly that." Melbourne's Jahrome Hughes has stolen the spotlight from his North Queensland opposite Tom Dearden with the Storm halfback orchestrating a commanding 38-14 victory at AAMI Park. All eyes were on Dearden, who is favoured to usurp Daly Cherry-Evans as Queensland's State of Origin No.7 when teams for game two in Perth are announced. But reigning Dally M Medallist Hughes was the stand-out from both teams, scoring two tries and setting up two more as well as nine tackle-busts in one of his best performances of the season. Hughes embraced his running game to keep the Cowboys defence guessing, with Cameron Munster also up to the challenge as the superstar pair marked their 100th NRL game in the Storm halves. Hughes also pulled off a critical strip on Jeremiah Nanai close to the tryline to help his team win consecutive matches for the first time since round six. Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy, who this week signed to stay on in 2027, said Hughes had been battling a number of injuries including a broken hand and neck issues. "He has been playing pretty well, but that was a pretty special effort tonight, it was definitely his best performance this year," Bellamy said. "He's done remarkably well to have played as many games as he's played, with some of the injuries, they're just sort of worn him down a little bit mentally too, not being able to do the things that he's used to doing or is capable of doing. "So he's been really brave for us ... but it looked like he shook off a few of those injuries tonight." Melbourne started with a bang with tries to Eli Katoa and Hughes setting up a 12-0 after 18 minutes. A pin-point cut-out pass from Dearden to winger Jaxson Paulo put the visitors on the scoreboard two minutes later. Melbourne went off the boil and only desperate defence goal-line kept them ahead, with North Queensland dominating territory 68 per cent to 32. Despite that statistic, the Storm made them pay when they got a chance in the 39th minute when a Hughes bomb was dropped cold by fullback Scott Drinkwater. Hughes then collected the spoils in the next set, linking with the rest of the star Melbourne spine for an 18-4 halftime lead. Despite a massive spray by Cowboys coach Todd Payten, Nick Meaney crossed two minutes into the second half after the Melbourne centre ran onto a Hughes grubber. The talented Cowboys attack finally kicked into gear and after Drinkwater saved a third Hughes try he scored one of his own after a Reece Robson dart from dummy-half. Robert Derby was in two minutes later to close the margin to 10 points but Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona stalled the Cowboys' momentum when he dragged four defenders over the line. Payten said his team beat themselves. "It's just pure disappointment, we didn't make a good team earn anything," he said. "When you crack so easily on your tryline, and then just give them leg up after leg up with tackle four or five penalties, play one, two errors, so it probably should have been more, to be fair. "It's frustrating and burning inside ... I hate when we beat ourselves, and I felt like tonight we did exactly that."
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Halfback Hughes runs amok as Storm thump Cowboys
Melbourne's Jahrome Hughes has stolen the spotlight from his North Queensland opposite Tom Dearden with the Storm halfback orchestrating a commanding 38-14 victory at AAMI Park. All eyes were on Dearden, who is favoured to usurp Daly Cherry-Evans as Queensland's State of Origin No.7 when teams for game two in Perth are announced. But reigning Dally M Medallist Hughes was the stand-out from both teams, scoring two tries and setting up two more as well as nine tackle-busts in one of his best performances of the season. Hughes embraced his running game to keep the Cowboys defence guessing, with Cameron Munster also up to the challenge as the superstar pair marked their 100th NRL game in the Storm halves. Hughes also pulled off a critical strip on Jeremiah Nanai close to the tryline to help his team winning consecutive matches for the first time since round six. Melbourne started with a bang with tries to Eli Katoa and Hughes setting up a 12-0 after 18 minutes. A pin-point cut-out pass from Dearden to winger Jaxson Paulo put the visitors on the scoreboard. But Melbourne went off the boil and only desperate defence kept them ahead, with North Queensland dominating territory 68 per cent to 32. Despite that statistic the Storm made them pay in the 39th minute when a Hughes bomb was dropped cold by fullback Scott Drinkwater. Hughes then collected the spoils in the next set, linking with the rest of the star Melbourne spine for an 18-4 halftime lead. Despite a massive spray by Cowboys coach Todd Payten, Nick Meaney crossed two minutes into the second half after the Melbourne centre ran onto a a Hughes grubber. The talented Cowboys attack finally kicked into gear and after Drinkwater saved a third Hughes try he scored one of his own after a Reece Robson dart from dummy-half. Robert Derby was in two minutes later to close the margin to 10 points but Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona stalled the Cowboys' momentum when he used his size and strength to drag four defenders over the line. A Ryan Papenhuyzen penalty then put the game out of reach for the visitors before Tyran Wishart iced the win with Melbourne's sixth try of the night. Dearden did enough to impress Maroons coach Billy Slater while Robson showed no signs of any hamstring distress to put his hand up to retain the NSW hooker jersey. Melbourne's Jahrome Hughes has stolen the spotlight from his North Queensland opposite Tom Dearden with the Storm halfback orchestrating a commanding 38-14 victory at AAMI Park. All eyes were on Dearden, who is favoured to usurp Daly Cherry-Evans as Queensland's State of Origin No.7 when teams for game two in Perth are announced. But reigning Dally M Medallist Hughes was the stand-out from both teams, scoring two tries and setting up two more as well as nine tackle-busts in one of his best performances of the season. Hughes embraced his running game to keep the Cowboys defence guessing, with Cameron Munster also up to the challenge as the superstar pair marked their 100th NRL game in the Storm halves. Hughes also pulled off a critical strip on Jeremiah Nanai close to the tryline to help his team winning consecutive matches for the first time since round six. Melbourne started with a bang with tries to Eli Katoa and Hughes setting up a 12-0 after 18 minutes. A pin-point cut-out pass from Dearden to winger Jaxson Paulo put the visitors on the scoreboard. But Melbourne went off the boil and only desperate defence kept them ahead, with North Queensland dominating territory 68 per cent to 32. Despite that statistic the Storm made them pay in the 39th minute when a Hughes bomb was dropped cold by fullback Scott Drinkwater. Hughes then collected the spoils in the next set, linking with the rest of the star Melbourne spine for an 18-4 halftime lead. Despite a massive spray by Cowboys coach Todd Payten, Nick Meaney crossed two minutes into the second half after the Melbourne centre ran onto a a Hughes grubber. The talented Cowboys attack finally kicked into gear and after Drinkwater saved a third Hughes try he scored one of his own after a Reece Robson dart from dummy-half. Robert Derby was in two minutes later to close the margin to 10 points but Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona stalled the Cowboys' momentum when he used his size and strength to drag four defenders over the line. A Ryan Papenhuyzen penalty then put the game out of reach for the visitors before Tyran Wishart iced the win with Melbourne's sixth try of the night. Dearden did enough to impress Maroons coach Billy Slater while Robson showed no signs of any hamstring distress to put his hand up to retain the NSW hooker jersey. Melbourne's Jahrome Hughes has stolen the spotlight from his North Queensland opposite Tom Dearden with the Storm halfback orchestrating a commanding 38-14 victory at AAMI Park. All eyes were on Dearden, who is favoured to usurp Daly Cherry-Evans as Queensland's State of Origin No.7 when teams for game two in Perth are announced. But reigning Dally M Medallist Hughes was the stand-out from both teams, scoring two tries and setting up two more as well as nine tackle-busts in one of his best performances of the season. Hughes embraced his running game to keep the Cowboys defence guessing, with Cameron Munster also up to the challenge as the superstar pair marked their 100th NRL game in the Storm halves. Hughes also pulled off a critical strip on Jeremiah Nanai close to the tryline to help his team winning consecutive matches for the first time since round six. Melbourne started with a bang with tries to Eli Katoa and Hughes setting up a 12-0 after 18 minutes. A pin-point cut-out pass from Dearden to winger Jaxson Paulo put the visitors on the scoreboard. But Melbourne went off the boil and only desperate defence kept them ahead, with North Queensland dominating territory 68 per cent to 32. Despite that statistic the Storm made them pay in the 39th minute when a Hughes bomb was dropped cold by fullback Scott Drinkwater. Hughes then collected the spoils in the next set, linking with the rest of the star Melbourne spine for an 18-4 halftime lead. Despite a massive spray by Cowboys coach Todd Payten, Nick Meaney crossed two minutes into the second half after the Melbourne centre ran onto a a Hughes grubber. The talented Cowboys attack finally kicked into gear and after Drinkwater saved a third Hughes try he scored one of his own after a Reece Robson dart from dummy-half. Robert Derby was in two minutes later to close the margin to 10 points but Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona stalled the Cowboys' momentum when he used his size and strength to drag four defenders over the line. A Ryan Papenhuyzen penalty then put the game out of reach for the visitors before Tyran Wishart iced the win with Melbourne's sixth try of the night. Dearden did enough to impress Maroons coach Billy Slater while Robson showed no signs of any hamstring distress to put his hand up to retain the NSW hooker jersey.
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Halfback Hughes runs amok as Storm thump Cowboys
Melbourne's Jahrome Hughes has stolen the spotlight from his North Queensland opposite Tom Dearden with the Storm halfback orchestrating a commanding 38-14 victory at AAMI Park. All eyes were on Dearden, who is favoured to usurp Daly Cherry-Evans as Queensland's State of Origin No.7 when teams for game two in Perth are announced. But reigning Dally M Medallist Hughes was the stand-out from both teams, scoring two tries and setting up two more as well as nine tackle-busts in one of his best performances of the season. Hughes embraced his running game to keep the Cowboys defence guessing, with Cameron Munster also up to the challenge as the superstar pair marked their 100th NRL game in the Storm halves. Hughes also pulled off a critical strip on Jeremiah Nanai close to the tryline to help his team winning consecutive matches for the first time since round six. Melbourne started with a bang with tries to Eli Katoa and Hughes setting up a 12-0 after 18 minutes. A pin-point cut-out pass from Dearden to winger Jaxson Paulo put the visitors on the scoreboard. But Melbourne went off the boil and only desperate defence kept them ahead, with North Queensland dominating territory 68 per cent to 32. Despite that statistic the Storm made them pay in the 39th minute when a Hughes bomb was dropped cold by fullback Scott Drinkwater. Hughes then collected the spoils in the next set, linking with the rest of the star Melbourne spine for an 18-4 halftime lead. Despite a massive spray by Cowboys coach Todd Payten, Nick Meaney crossed two minutes into the second half after the Melbourne centre ran onto a a Hughes grubber. The talented Cowboys attack finally kicked into gear and after Drinkwater saved a third Hughes try he scored one of his own after a Reece Robson dart from dummy-half. Robert Derby was in two minutes later to close the margin to 10 points but Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona stalled the Cowboys' momentum when he used his size and strength to drag four defenders over the line. A Ryan Papenhuyzen penalty then put the game out of reach for the visitors before Tyran Wishart iced the win with Melbourne's sixth try of the night. Dearden did enough to impress Maroons coach Billy Slater while Robson showed no signs of any hamstring distress to put his hand up to retain the NSW hooker jersey.
7NEWS
6 days ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Craig Bellamy to continue as Melbourne Storm coach for 24th year
Craig Bellamy is set to continue as Melbourne coach for a 24th year, deciding against moving into a new role at the NRL club or retirement. Bellamy, 65, signed a unique five-year contract with the Storm in 2022 that allows him to decide each year whether he will continue in the head coach position. With Melbourne currently in fourth spot on the NRL ladder and among the title favourites, Bellamy will confirm at a press conference on Thursday morning before Storm training that he has taken up the option to stay on next year. A regular visitor to the Gold Coast where he has a house and family, Bellamy has recently been linked with a move to the Titans at the end of his contract. He became Storm coach in 2003, leading the team to a semi-final in his first year. Since then the Storm have played in 21 finals series, winning the grand final on five occasions and the minor premiership eight times. Coaching 590 games, he has a winning percentage of 69.49 per cent. His enthusiasm for the game doesn't appear to be wavering, this year committing to additional duties as an advisor to NSW State of Origin coach Laurie Daley. Halfback Jarome Hughes said earlier this week Bellamy hadn't told the players about his future plans but hoped the coach would stay on for another season. 'He's such a great coach and he's been such a great mentor for all of us players for so long — so the longer he stays the better,' the Dally M Medallist said. 'It's whatever's best for him and his family and whatever he wants to do, but I can't see him hanging it up too soon. 'He'll get bored at home in his mansion at Albert Park so I'm sure he'll go around again.' Melbourne host sixth-placed North Queensland on Friday night and will be back to full-strength after skipper Harry Grant and winger Xavier Coates sat out their Gold Coast win following State of Origin duty.
