After a breakout year in 2019, Jahrome Hughes has cemented his place in our starting side and will play his 50th game for the club against the Bulldogs in Round 13.
It was in last year's Round 4 clash with the Bulldogs that Hughesy made a sensational try-saving tackle that best epitomises his style of play - he is courageous in attack and defence with the fearlessness of a player twice his size.
That fearlessness has earned him respect and a few concussions along the way.
"I've had a couple of knocks to the head lately," he said last month (while sporting a black eye).
"The modelling career is over. Actually it was over before the knocks to the head."
Ahead of his big 5-0, Hughesy said it was a milestone he never expected to reach.
"A few years ago I was stacking fridges at the surf club in Townsville, now I've played 50 games for the Storm," he told media this week.
I honestly didn't think I'd ever get a game for Melbourne with the calibre of players they had. I just came down to learn from Craig and Cameron and soak up everything at this great club.
Jahrome Hughes On 50 games for Storm
"My first NRL game was way back in 2013 so it feels like it's been forever since then but at the same time the last couple of years since I've been in Melbourne have flown by.
"(50 games) snuck up on me. I'm pretty stoked.
"I've been in the NRL system for a long time and I've had a couple of setbacks with injuries.
I'm so proud that I've made 50 and I probably thought I never would. I played one game in 2013 and didn't play first grade again for another three to four years.
Jahrome Hughes
"To reach 50 games for Melbourne is an awesome milestone."
After he produced near-faultless performances at fullback in the opening 10 rounds of 2019 and made the number one jersey his own, Hughesy switched to halfback at the business end of the year.
He spent the summer training in the halves and if his recent form is anything to go by, he's hitting his stride in the number 7 jersey.
Hughesy has scored four tries so far this season (two doubles in rounds 8 and 11) with 9 try assists to his name.
"The coaches want me to use my running game more and I know my running game is my strength," he said.
"It's a confidence thing - I just need to back myself and choose the right moments.
"Hopefully I can keep building it into my game."
