Early Mail: Sharks v Storm

The Storm are set to make a call on the availability of star halfback Jahrome Hughes for Friday night's preliminary final against the Sharks just three weeks after he fractured his forearm.

The 2024 Dally M winner is racing the clock to play and faces a fitness test ahead of team selections on Tuesday.

Hughes fractured his forearm in the Round 27 loss to the Broncos, which was his first match back from a dislocated shoulder, but has been back in training in the hope of helping Storm to back-to-back grand finals.

"I think he’s ticking all the boxes at the moment with the physios,” five-eighth Cameron Munster told Newscorp.

“I’m not too sure on what the coaches are going to do but at this stage he looks the goods. I think he did a little bit of contact last week just to give him self-confidence.

“I think he got through unscathed. I think he’s fit and ready to go. So it all depends on the coaching staff and whether they are ready to pick him.

"From all reports, the physios have given him the green light and there is enough strength there to be able to get through this week and next week.”

Star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen is also set to play after missing the qualifying final defeat of the Bulldogs due to a concussion sustained against the Broncos, while second-rower Shawn Blore could return from throat surgery.

“We had a couple of big outs for the first final in Ryan Papenhuyzen and Jahrome Hughes, that were both out injured,” Melbourne GM of football Frank Ponissi told SEN.

“Ryan's got to get through his HIA protocols, so he's looking good at the moment.

“Jahrome Hughes is coming back from having a plate inserted in his arm in the last game, so he could be a fantastic addition for the prelim.

"He's still got a bit of work to do, but he's a chance of playing as well. So they're two huge ins for our team in the prelim.”

Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon has confirmed that Samoan international Oregon Kaufusi will replace Tom Hazelton in the side to play the Storm on Friday night for a place in the grand final.

Fitzgibbon had struggled to choose between the pair for last Saturday night's semi-final against the Raiders but opted for Hazelton after Kaufusi suffered a calf injury in the Round 22 win against the Cowboys.

However, Hazelton lasted just four minutes before being ruled out of the match with a Category 1 head knock that will sideline him from the preliminary final in Melbourne under the NRL's 11-day stand down policy for concussions.

While the loss of Hazelton is a blow, Fitzgibbon said he would have no hesitation in recalling Kaufusi, who had played every match before his injury, as well as Round 27 and last week's elimination final against the Roosters. 

"Obviously it's a Cat 1 so Tommy's no good but to be fair to Tommy, I was worried all week, I felt like I probably should have played Oregon to be perfectly honest, but based on Tommy's prep ... Tommy has played so strong," Fitzgibbon said.

"Oregon has been in our team the whole year and it was a really tough call, but Oregon's preparation got disrupted by a calf injury and I felt like he didn't have the workload in.

"You can't muck around at this time of the year, you have got to have battle-hardened soldiers ready to go, but Oregon Kaufusi is in our team every day of the week when he is fit and healthy.

"His preparation had been hampered, but it won't be next week."

The Broncos are set for a triple boost for their preliminary final at Suncorp Stadium next Sunday against the winner of the Bulldogs-Panthers semi-final, with halves Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam set to return, along with Selwyn Cobbo.

The trio suffered hamstring injuries in the Round 23 loss to Melbourne but all are back in training and Cobbo played for Wynnum-Manly in the Queensland Cup on Sunday.

Reynolds and Mam are expected to play this week, offsetting the loss of utility Billy Walters (ACL) and prop Pat Carrigan (suspended). 

Liam Martin has confirmed he is fine despite coming off with a rib injury that saw him struggle to make his way up the tunnel.

“They’re all right now. There was a bit of carry-on there. It’s a bit sore at the moment, but they’re all right,” he said in the Accor Stadium sheds.

“I landed on the ball, and ‘Kiks’ is a pretty big man and he landed on me. I was a bit winded but I’m all right now.

Centre Jesse McLean will play despite separate hip and shoulder injuries.

Mitch Kenny made a successful return from a hamstring injury against the Bulldogs.