Melbourne Storm hopeful Jahrome Hughes will play in NRL finals after dislocating shoulder in Roosters win

Melbourne’s premiership hopes have received a massive boost, with Dally M Medalist Jahrome Hughes to avoid surgery and return for the NRL’s finals.

Hughes flew back to Melbourne with the rest of the Storm players on Friday, after having his dislocated left shoulder put back in place in hospital on Thursday night.

It’s understood initial tests at the hospital did not show significant damage, which an MRI on Friday confirmed.

The Storm said this afternoon Hughes “does not require immediate surgery” and has the “aim of returning for the NRL Finals”.

Melbourne’s 34-30 win over the Sydney Roosters on Thursday night could prove crucial, lifting them to second and creating a buffer to teams outside the four.

But it came at a serious cost, with Hughes leaving the field early in the second half after hurting his shoulder trying to make a tackle on James Tedesco.

Storm medical staff were unable to put the shoulder back in place, with Hughes taken to hospital for emergency work.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy was very concerned post-match.

“I don’t think it’s overly good news,” he said.

“I think the longer they’re out, it’s a bigger problem ... it stretches the ligaments and muscles around the joint.”

Melbourne play Parramatta next week, before a run home against Brisbane, Penrith, Canterbury, the Roosters and Broncos again in the run to the finals.

Bellamy said Hughes’ absence would leave a huge gap to fill as the Storm look to cement a top-two finish.

“Obviously no one wants to lose their halfback. He is a massive part of our footy team without a doubt,” he said.

“It’ll take a bit. We probably won’t recover completely, he was the Dally M player last year. However long he is out for, we’re going to miss him.”

The Storm will have Cameron Munster back in the halves against Parramatta, after his late father Steven’s funeral on Friday in Rockhampton.

Fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen is also expected back, after having missed four games with a calf strain.

Melbourne do have options at No.7, but by their own admission Hughes is close to irreplaceable.

Tyran Wishart looms as the most likely option, having filled in at No.6 alongside Hughes at regular intervals in the past 18 months when Munster has been out.

“Obviously wait and see with Hughesy,” he said.

“He is a tough bastard so we will wait and see what happens. But any chance I get to start, I love it.”

Jonah Pezet is the other option. Revered as a young talent, the 22-year-old has been battered by knee injuries for the past two seasons.

He has started six of his 12 first-grade games in the halves at the Storm, and is now five matches into his comeback from an ACL rupture and subsequent setback.

“It will be up to them, it will give someone else a chance,” Bellamy said.

“Pez is only a young kid, he hasn’t had too much first-grade experience at all. He is a good organiser and kicker. We will see what we think is best for the team.

“Mun will come back in and we will go from there.

“But we probably won’t recover completely, (Hughes) was the Dally M player last year so that shows how good of a player he is.

“No matter how long he is out for, we’re going to miss him.”

In some brief good news for Melbourne on Friday morning, bench prop Tui Kamikamica has avoided a ban for a crusher tackle on Suia Wong.

He can instead escape with a $1000 fine, and be cleared to face Parramatta next Thursday night.