Jahrome Hughes has put to bed any lingering doubts about his future at the Melbourne Storm by signing a new long-term contract.
The deal will keep the halfback committed through until the end of the 2030 campaign, positioning the Victorian club to remain a major premiership force for years to come, with the reigning Dally M Medal winner committed to the cause.
The 30-year-old, who arrived at the Storm in 2017, spurned reported interest from elsewhere to remain in the purple jersey.
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Why did Jahrome Hughes spurn expansion interest to remain with the Storm?
Hughes had been singled out as a potential target for NRL expansion sides, with the Perth Bears, in particular, armed with stacks of cash and reportedly keen to lure the No.7 west.
Yet Mal Meninga and Co. were unable to get into a room with Hughes and pitch their vision of the gold rush in Western Australia.
Instead, Hughes inked a deal that keeps him out of the clutches of the Bears and any possible interest from PNG.
"I’m delighted to extend my contract with Storm for another four years," Hughes stated. "I absolutely love this club. It’s become a second family to me and Melbourne feels like home."
The Wellington-born product was originally contracted through to the end of 2026.
However, Melbourne worked quickly behind the scenes to ensure he would not be available for negotiations with rivals from November 1.
Hughes detailed how he viewed himself as a one-club player after clocking just one game each at North Queensland and the Gold Coast during a rocky start to his career.
Since his arrival as a fullback at the Storm, Craig Bellamy has helped to guide the Kiwi into becoming one of the game’s premier playmakers.
The premiership-winning No.7 has made over 150 appearances for Melbourne, boasting a 76 per cent win percentage.
And he declared that his loyalty to the club that handed him an opportunity played a major factor in his re-signing.
"It feels like I am a one-club player," Hughes said.
"Just to be able to stay at a club like the Melbourne Storm and everything they have done for my family - I definitely wouldn’t be in the position I am or be the player or person I am today without them and the staff.
"I know there are a lot of rumours, but for myself and my wife, it was how can we stay here and if it is possible, we will do everything we can to be able to stay here at the club."
Hughes got his wish with a four-year extension set to allow him to see out his days in the NRL with the Storm.
The halfback admitted that while the potential money on offer from the likes of the Bears was tempting, he ultimately put his and his family’s happiness and chances to win premierships at the forefront of his mind.
"I love this club so much, so once they put an offer in, it was pretty hard to say no to that," Hughes said.
"A goal of mine is to be successful and the club has been in that position for nearly every year, so that was probably the main one.
"For myself and my personality, I like being away from the media side of things and you are able to hide a little bit down here," Hughes continued.
"We’re having a baby at the end of the year and if we were to move, we would have to ship the baby. That played a role as well.
"This place is like a home for us now and Molly, my wife, was a big one. A couple of years ago, she was keen to move back to Queensland but she loves it down here.
"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.
"Obviously, money is nice. But for myself, Molly and my family it was about happiness."