“Haven't seen any evidence”: Cam Smith responds to rumours Jahrome Hughes wants a Gold Coast return

Melbourne Storm legend Cameron Smith and the director of the agency who manages star playmaker Jahrome Hughes have shot down rumours the halfback is looking to leave Victoria and return to the Gold Coast.

After revelations on SENQ from Queensland great Corey Parker that he heard “rumblings” Hughes was considering a move north, Smith said he hasn’t seen any evidence Hughes wanted out of the Storm.

“Most times the performance is a dead giveaway on the field and I reckon he’s been one of the best, if not, their best player this year,” Smith said on SENQ Breakfast.

“The form line’s not giving too much away about him being unsettled.

“I completely understand the thinking of wanting to be closer to family as far as wanting to start their own family and being around support, because I lived down there for 20 years when I started my own family and it’s difficult right, it’s challenging.

“I ran into him the other night… he seems pretty settled, I know his wife as well, caught up with them at the start of the year actually and they seemed really happy.

“I understand the want to come back home, we’ll watch this space.”

Chris Orr, the director and owner of Pacific Sports Management who manage Hughes, echoed Smith’s comments.

“His agent within our group represents him and he’d be in contact with him over different stages of his career but at no stage have I heard of Jahrome Hughes heading back this way,” he said on SENQ Mornings.

Hughes has been with the Storm since 2017 following stints at the Gold Coast Titans and North Queensland Cowboys and is contracted until the end of 2026.

Despite still being under contract, Smith said he couldn’t see Melbourne standing in the playmaker’s way if he wanted to return to Queensland for family reasons.

“They’d be disappointed, there’s no doubt about that because he’s an extremely important part of that football club and he’s a wonderful club person and (his wife) is heavily involved in the footy club as well,” Smith added.

“They’re a club that has never stood in the way of guys wanting to make decisions for personal reasons… If he went there with a legitimate reason to get back home, I don’t think they’re going to stand in his way.”