Former Kiwi Gary Freeman believes Jahrome Hughes holds the keys for New Zealand’s Rugby League World Cup finals hopes this weekend.
The halfback is a proven performer both with the Kiwis and for the Melbourne Storm in the NRL and has become a staple in the halves with Eels star Dylan Brown.
While injury prevented him from taking part in the opening games of the tournament, his return made an immediate impact on the field, setting the Kiwis up for their semi-final clash with the Kangaroos.
With their toughest match of the competition fast approaching, Freeman believes Hughes will have to play the biggest game of his career if the Kiwis wish to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
“He’s the key for this side,” Freeman told SENZ’s The Run Home.
“If they are going to beat Australia, we need this bloke, Jahrome Hughes, to fire on all cylinders even though he’s maybe still carrying a little bit of an injury.
“He needs to really have one of the biggest games he’s ever had.
“Because on the other side of the coin, you don’t want to be getting on that plane Saturday going, ‘Oh, we missed our chances’.”
The former New Zealand halfback believes Hughes is a “class above” his rivals in the tournament, saying teams struggle to find their direction when he is off the field.
“I just think he is a class above the other halfbacks in the competition (and) I love the way he leads the team around the field,” Freeman added.
“When he was missing from Melbourne, they struggled.
“They lacked direction, they lacked a kicking game and one thing about young Hughes: he’s tough, and you’ve got to have that mentality that you’re tough and you’ll take the forwards on.
“He loves taking the ball to the line, that’s what I like about him.
“I’d go and watch a kid like that play … he excites me because of what he can do for the team.”
The Kiwis will take on the Kangaroos on Saturday morning in the biggest clash of the World Cup so far, where only one team will progress to the final the following weekend.
The winner will take on either England or Samoa, who go head-to-head on Sunday morning.