As reported by the Daily Telegraph this morning, Melbourne Storm are set to land a major blow in the player market by securing Jahrome Hughes on a long-term extension, ending weeks of speculation and shutting the door on rival clubs hoping to lure the star halfback away.
The Storm have worked for months to keep Hughes in purple, and now a multimillion-dollar deal is close to being finalised that will tie the Dally M winner to the club for at least three more years.
Hughes was already contracted for next season, but this new agreement will ensure his name never reaches the open market on November 1 — a huge disappointment for expansion franchises such as the Perth Bears and PNG, who are looking for marquee players to build their foundation around.
Those clubs were expected to make Hughes one of their top priorities given his status as one of the NRL’s elite playmakers and his contract situation. This development may now only intensify their interest in luring some of his teammates, such as Cameron Munster.

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In 2025, there are significant challenges to retaining top players. Aside from the NRL expansion teams, there are also well-publicised raids from rugby union ramping up, most notably the offers expected from R360 if the rebel competition gets off the ground.
For the Storm, the Hughes deal is a crucial first step in locking down their spine long-term. Despite the media attention surrounding Munster, Papenhuyzen and Grant, there is an argument that the maestro at No.7 is the most vital piece.
The club has also identified Harry Grant, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Xavier Coates as retention priorities and wants all three committed before the Perth Bears officially enter the player market later this year.
While Hughes’ decision is a major win for the Storm, it could have flow-on effects for other players like Jonah Pezet, who has spent the past two seasons developing as a future starting half but has an agreement that effectively gives him freedom to negotiate elsewhere once Hughes signs on.
At 21, Pezet is viewed as one of the best young halves in the game and would attract serious interest if he becomes available, especially after successfully returning this season from a 2024 ACL injury.
The Storm have built much of their success on securing and developing exceptional role players. The likes of Pezet and Tyran Wishart have been able to step into multiple positions seamlessly, helping to drive the club’s sustained success, particularly during representative periods when stars are unavailable.

Much like former Storm utility Nicho Hynes, however, with the focus shifting to retaining other star players, it is inevitable that rival clubs will come knocking — offering not just larger pay packets, but also far greater opportunities for regular first-grade game time.
Cameron Munster shapes as the most intriguing piece of the puzzle among Melbourne’s big names. Under contract until the end of 2026, the Queensland playmaker cannot be approached by rivals yet, but Perth have him firmly on their radar as a marquee signing for their debut season.
With a clean salary cap and no roster constraints, the Bears could reportedly offer Munster in excess of $1.5 million per year — a figure Melbourne would struggle to match even with future salary cap increases, particularly considering they also need to retain stars like Papenhuyzen and Coates.
The Storm know Munster’s status as a proven match-winner makes him an obvious target. The possibility of a record-breaking offer from Perth or another rival could force Melbourne to make a call between their current No.6 and Pezet as the long-term partner for Hughes.
For now, Hughes remains the headline act. He is recovering from a shoulder injury but will return in time for the finals, and his decision to stay signals the Storm’s determination to keep their elite talent in place — even as new clubs and rival codes like R360, armed with deep pockets, circle for the game’s biggest names.