Melbourne Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes will head into Sunday's NRL decider on a massive high after taking home the Dally M Medal as the game's best player in 2024.
Hughes becomes the third Kiwi after Gary Freeman (1992) and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (2018) to claim the coveted award.
The halfback's fellow New Zealanders paid tribute to his achievement with a stirring haka after the presentation.
He finished with 62 points, just one point clear of runner up James Tedesco.
Hughes was stunned to be named the winner, capping a remarkable rise from a Queensland Cup fullback to the best halfback in the game.
Jahrome Hughes takes to the stage to collect his Dally M Medal
"I never thought I'd be a halfback in the NRL," Hughes said. "I thought I was a fullback until a guy called Papenhuyzen took my spot. I had to find a spot somewhere else in the team and Craig [Bellamy] made it halfback.
"It was a bit of a different transition, I'd never really played in the halves too much. Craig told me not to change my game too much, stick to my strengths and I'd have to learn a few different things.
"I've done that and I've got some help from a few people. [Cooper Cronk] was there helping me out ever since I've become a halfback. A lot of coaching staff there as well, I'm super grateful for those guys."
Hughes honoured with powerful Haka
In 22 games for the Storm in 2024, Hughes came up with 26 try assists, 12 tries, and 26 line break assists, guiding his team to a fifth minor premiership in nine seasons.
Remarkably when voting went behind closed doors after Round 12, Hughes was sitting 15 points behind leader Dylan Edwards.
The Panthers fullback had polled 31 votes on the back of a blistering start to the season, with Nicho Hynes second on 30, Daly Cherry-Evans third on 27 and Hughes on 16.
From there the Storm won 11 of their final 13 matches and Hughes was instrumental in a number of impressive victories.
He didn't, however, run away with the result and needed the full six votes in the final round of the season to hold off a fast-finishing James Tedesco.
The Roosters fullback also polled six votes in Round 27 in a thrilling finish but fell one point shy of Hughes.
