Christy Doran
Four years is a long time to be holding on to one moment. But for Jahrome Hughes, his inability to lead the Kiwis home against the Kangaroos in the 2022 semi-final in England is the driver behind this month’s World Cup revenge.
While Hughes scored a try and produced a try-saving tackle on Kangaroos flyer Josh Addo-Carr in his side’s 16-14 semi-final loss in Leeds, the NRL premiership winner has been replaying one missed opportunity ever since.
None was bigger than the 73rd minute when the Kiwis had the Kangaroos on the rack after Jordan Rapana burst through Valentine Holmes’ tackle and helped set up a 60-metre line break.
With the Kangaroos on the back foot and defending their line 15 metres out, Hughes put the ball on the toe on the second tackle to try to catch Mal Meninga’s men out and send Peta Hiku in to score, but the makeshift winger couldn’t ground the ball inside the field of play.
The missed chance was the Kiwis’ last great chance.
Hughes hasn’t forgotten about it. And for four years the now 32-year-old has been sweating on another chance to taste revenge.
“Obviously, getting so close in 2022 in the World Cup and losing to Aussie in the semi-final, I still hold a bit of fire in my belly from that. I take a lot of blame for losing that game,” he said.
Fortunately, Hughes will get an early chance to put that moment to bed when the Kiwis take on the Kangaroos on Thursday night in Sydney in this year’s World Cup opener.
“I think it’s more not thinking about it as a bad thing,” Hughes said.
“[It’s] fuelling that fire and making sure that doesn’t happen again. That’s what happened in that last World Cup. I feel like it’s worked for me already. Preparation and my mindset going into this tournament.”
Having been inspired by Nathan Cayless’s world championship-winning side in 2008, the Melbourne Storm halfback is hoping his 2026 class can build on rugby league’s wave of momentum running through the Shaky Isles by toppling Australia.
“Just thinking back to 2008 when I was a kid and seeing how that win made me feel. If we were able to lift that trophy at the end of this World Cup, the things it would do for the kids back home in New Zealand and all the supporters back home in New Zealand, it would be truly special,” he said.
“Especially seeing the way our game has grown over there. It’s [a] credit to the Warriors. All the hype they’ve got over there and all the new fans they’ve got. They’re doing a great job.
“For us to win it, it would be really special. Not just for us players but for the whole country.”
Thursday’s World Cup opener also shapes as Hughes’s first international since 2023, having missed the past two years due to injury.
“I cherish every time I get to put this jersey on,” said Hughes, who added that he was enjoying playing under New Zealand great Stacey Jones.
“The last couple of years have been tough; different injuries and not being able to play.
“I’m one of the older guys now, but I felt like a little kid coming back into camp and seeing everyone.”
The Storm gun is set to square up against his Melbourne teammate Cameron Munster, but just who joins both in the halves remains to be seen.
In particular, Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters has a selection headache with Mitch Moses, Tom Dearden and Sam Walker all battling it out for the prized No.7 jersey.
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