Jahrome Hughes has revealed that his family played a huge part in his decision to turn his back on a proposed mega-money move to join the NRL’s newest franchise the Perth Bears.
The reigning Dally M medallist’s contract with the Melbourne Storm had been due to expire at the end of 2026, and speculation had arisen that he was in line to become Mal Meninga’s blockbuster signing to join up with the newly established Perth outfit when they enter the league in February 2027.
Reports had claimed that the 30-year-old five-eighth could have penned a landmark deal worth around $2million to move to Western Australia, but in a huge coup for the Storm, it was revealed on Tuesday that he will be remaining at the Victoria-based outfit until the conclusion of the 2030 season.
While he explained that it would have been easy to take the money, Hughes, who is expecting a baby with his wife Molly at the end of the year, said that is reasoning boiled down to the happiness of his young family.
‘I think the thing for me is just where I’m going to be happy. My wife and I, we are having a kid at the end of the year,’ he told reporters.
‘You don’t want to be going somewhere for money and not enjoying your life. It was the value of my happiness and my family’s happiness.’
Jahrome Hughes has revealed that his family played a huge part in his decision to turn his back on a proposed move to join the NRL ‘s newest franchise the Perth Bears on a mega-money deal
He revealed that he and his partner Molly are having a baby at the end of the year, adding his decision to stayat the Storm was based on his family’s happiness
Hughes is currently out of action, having suffered a dislocated shoulder during his side’s recent match against the Sydney Roosters.
But doubts had arisen over whether the footy star, who joined Melbourne back in 2017, was interested in switching states to join the Bears.
‘There are a lot of rumours out there of what clubs could offer me if I went to market and rugby union code switches, but money wasn’t really high on what we wanted,’ he said.
‘Obviously, money is nice, but for myself and (wife) Molly and my family it was about happiness.
‘It’s easy to take money, but if you are not happy, then your value of life is going to really go down.
‘For me, it was about being happy and success as well. We want to be playing for premierships every year or be put in that conversation.
‘The Storm have that definitely and we are really happy here and it definitely makes it easy to be happy.’
Despite the injury agony, Hughes has enjoyed an excellent season so far for the Storm, scoring six tries in 17 appearances for the club as well as an impressive 19 try assists.
The reigning Dally M medallist could have penned a deal to join Mal Meninga’s Perth Bears side that could have earned him an extra $1million
Instead, he has resigned for Melbourne and will continue to play for the Victoria-based outfit until the end of the 2030 season
While he admitted that taking the money was an easy option, his family’s happiness was more important to him
He is, though, expected to make a full recovery in time for this year’s finals campaign, with last year’s finalists currently sitting third in the NRL ladder.
The humble Kiwi, who helped Melbourne win premierships in 2017 and 2020, added that helping the Storm continue to challenge for flags was another driving factor in his decision to snub the Bears.
‘You look at the football side of things, the dream is to chase premierships and I think Melbourne’s in a good window for that and has always been ever since I’ve been here, and even before I came here. I looked at those sorts of things as factors in the contract,’ Hughes said.
‘I have won a premiership and was lucky enough to win a Dally M last year. I never thought I’d be able to do those things.
‘I am very grateful to be where I am. So just to show them a bit of loyalty as well was always something that was in the back of my mind.’
Hughes also wanted to give something back to the club.
‘I have won a premiership and was lucky enough to win a Dally M last year. I never thought I’d be able to do those things.’
‘I am very grateful to be where I am. So, just to show them a bit of loyalty as well was always something that was in the back of my mind.
Hughes has now been ruled until this year’s finals series with a dislocated shoulder sustained this month during his side’s clash against the Sydney Roosters
The footy star also admitted he had to pay the club back for it’s years of loyalty
While Hughes is set to stay, questions have been raised over the futures of several other Melbourne stars.
Queensland State of Origin hero Cameron Munster is also reportedly ‘open’ to a switch to the Bears, according to journalist Paul Kent.
Munster is contracted to the footy club until the end of the 2027 season.
Meanwhile, The Sydney Morning Herald stated on Tuesday that Ryan Papenhuyzen has held ‘a high-level meeting’ with executives plotting out the new breakaway rugby union league, Rugby360.
The outlet claims that he could defect in 2027.
