Jahrome Hughes made a powerful and insightful statement ahead of the highly anticipated match against the three-time defending premiers, the Penrith Panthers.

NRL fans in Sydney could get a glimpse of the grand final matchup on Thursday when the Storm visit to face the Panthers. Melbourne halfback Jahrome Hughes has already set the tone by calling the Panthers “the best right now” as both teams compete for the minor premiership.

The Storm leads by two points and can virtually secure the minor premiership with a win. They will also keep a slim lead if they lose by no more than two points. The Storm still has two games left against top-eight teams, while Penrith’s remaining three fixtures are against teams not expected to reach the finals.

“You want to face the best, and Penrith is the top team right now and has been for the past few years,” Hughes said ahead of the clash with the three-time reigning champions.

“It’s going to be a valuable test for us, and I think we need it. “We have a lot we want to achieve with our game as we aim for the end of the year. This game is likely the perfect opportunity to compete against the best at their home ground.”

The rivalry between these teams intensifies at this time of year, with Melbourne defeating Penrith in the 2020 grand final, only for the Panthers to eliminate them from the competition in 2021 and 2023. Last week, both teams were not at their best. The Storm secured a victory over the Rabbitohs despite a rough second half, while Penrith delivered one of the most remarkable comebacks of the season, scoring three late tries to overcome the Eels.

PENRITH, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 04: Cameron Munster of the Storm runs the ball during the round 23 NRL match between Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm at BlueBet Stadium on August 04, 2023 in Penrith, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

Though neither team will openly admit it, both have likely been focused on this high-profile matchup. This will be their first encounter since round 1, when the Storm secured a hard-fought 8-0 victory and kept Penrith scoreless for the second time in three years. Despite only having lost four games this season, Hughes acknowledges that they will need to significantly improve their performance on Thursday. Storm coach Craig Bellamy has also issued a warning to his players after last week’s win. “If we play like that next week, the scoreboard operator will be very busy on one side,” the experienced coach cautioned.

“And it won’t be our side.”

The Storm defended superbly in round 1, but much has changed over the past five months. Penrith’s attack is now firing on all cylinders with Nathan Cleary back in the lineup. “If you look back at our game, some of the things we did well that night are things we haven’t been doing as effectively recently,” Hughes said. “We can take a few lessons from that game, but a lot has changed over those 25 weeks. “They’re an excellent defensive team, so we need to find a way to break through that. “It’s a complete game, and that’s how they play. They’re a strong team who don’t make mistakes on their own, so we need to be at our best. “I feel like we’re not losing games recently, but we’re making mistakes that are really hurting us, so we need to address that. If we don’t, we’ll have a tough time this weekend.”