Jahrome Hughes, a 32-year-old NRL player for Melbourne Storm, is driven by his missed opportunity during New Zealand’s loss to Australia in the World Cup semi-final in 2022. In that match, Hughes failed to capitalize on a crucial play that could have led to a try for his team, contributing to their narrow defeat. Now, as he prepares for this year’s World Cup opener against Australia in Sydney, Hughes sees this moment of regret as motivation rather than disappointment, hoping to help New Zealand achieve victory and inspire rugby league growth in the country.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-11,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In the 2022 Rugby League World Cup semifinal against Australia's Kangaroos, Jahrome Hughes of New Zealand's Kiwis team had a critical moment when he attempted a toe ball pass to set up a try for Peta Hiku but the latter couldn't ground it inside the field. This missed opportunity occurred in the 73rd minute after Rapana broke through Holmes' tackle, giving the Kiwis their best chance at victory. Despite scoring a try and making an essential defensive play against Josh Addo-Carr earlier in the match, Hughes has been haunted by this moment for four years. Now, as he prepares for another World Cup, Hughes is determined to achieve revenge on the Kangaroos who defeated him in the 2022 semifinal.
Written for “Rugby World Cup Match Kiwis Vs Australia” on 2026-10-11,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Four years is a long time to be holding on to one moment.
asserted
years → hold → 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.
asserted
inability → lead → 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.
asserted
winner → score → opportunity
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.
asserted
Rapana → have → 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.
asserted
chance → defend → play
Hughes hasn’t forgotten about it.
asserted
Hughes → forget → it
And for four years the now 32-year-old has been sweating on another chance to taste revenge.
asserted
old → sweat → 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.
asserted
I → get → that
I take a lot of blame for losing that game,” he said.
asserted
he → take → game
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.
asserted
Kiwis → get → opener
“I think it’s more not thinking about it as a bad thing,” Hughes said.
asserted
Hughes → think → thing
“[It’s] fuelling that fire and making sure that doesn’t happen again.
asserted
that → fuel → fire
That’s what happened in that last World Cup.
asserted
what → ’ → Cup
I feel like it’s worked for me already.
asserted
it → feel → me
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.
asserted
class → go → Australia
“Just thinking back to 2008 when I was a kid and seeing how that win made me feel.
asserted
me → think → 2008
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.
asserted
he → lift → Zealand
“Especially seeing the way our game has grown over there.
asserted
game → see → way
It’s [a] credit to the Warriors.
asserted
It → ’ → Warriors
All the hype they’ve got over there and all the new fans they’ve got.
asserted
they → get → ?
They’re doing a great job.
asserted
They → do → job
“For us to win it, it would be really special.
asserted
it → win → it
Thursday’s World Cup opener also shapes as Hughes’s first international since 2023, having missed the past two years due to injury.
asserted
opener → shape → 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.
asserted
he → cherish → Jones
“The last couple of years have been tough; different injuries and not being able to play.
asserted
couple → play → years
“I’m one of the older guys now, but I felt like a little kid coming back into camp and seeing everyone.”
asserted
I → ’m → 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.
asserted
joins → set → halves
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.
asserted
Moses → have → jersey
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