In an extraordinary twist less than 24 hours after the incident, the Melbourne Storm are optimistic star halfback Jahrome Hughes will play again this season, after initial scans cleared him of any fracture to complicate his painful shoulder injury.
Hughes' season looked to have ended in disastrous fashion on Thursday night when his shoulder popped out as he attempted to make a tackle on James Tedesco, but that prognosis has since become more positive.
While further testing on the internal structures of Hughes' shoulder is still required, the 30-year-old is facing the possibility of six weeks on the sidelines rather than immediate surgery that would bring a definite close to his 2025.
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Storm chief executive Justin Rodski confirmed to The Sydney Morning Herald that Hughes would not be back until at least the NRL finals, but the club would know more later on Friday once Hughes undergoes an MRI in Melbourne.
With the prospect of Hughes returning in time for the finals, Melbourne's premiership hopes have been given a significant boost.
The reigning Dally M Medal winner was forced from the field in the 43rd minute of his side's victory against the Sydney Roosters and looked to be in total agony as he clutched at his left shoulder.
Hughes reached out to try and make a tackle on a runaway Tedesco and landed awkwardly, immediately showing signs of discomfort.
"If that's a dislocated shoulder or something of that nature, this would be a massive moment in Melbourne's season," Mat Thompson said in commentary for Nine.
"I think the Storm faithful are collectively grimacing, along with Jahrome Hughes, who is being helped off the field here … this looks very dire.
"You never knock a champion team, but Melbourne's premiership hopes might be walking off with Jahrome Hughes here. That did not look good."
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League legend Andrew Johns admitted it was a tough sight for Hughes and the club.
"Melbourne Storm fans, hold your breath," he said in commentary.
"Look at his face, he knows something is going on.
"They have been short favourites to win the competition all year and rightly so – but to win a competition, you've gotta have luck with injuries."
After being helped from the field, Hughes was given a green whistle for his pain, but when it failed to provide relief, the Storm medical staff were forced to administer more painkillers as he sat in the sheds.
News then surfaced mid-way through the second half that the Storm had been forced to call an ambulance for the playmaker with the shoulder refusing to go back into place.
Speaking to media after the thrilling 34-30 win, head coach Craig Bellamy admitted there could be a "bigger problem" for the Kiwis' halfback.
"He's gone to hospital, the doctor's gone [Bec Beaton] with him – not really sure," he said.
"It's dislocated, and they couldn't get it in. He will probably have to go under [anaesthetic] to get it in. Whether he's got a crack in it as well, we might not know until tomorrow. You'd like to think they will get it back in tonight.
"I've experienced it myself, I had both my shoulders reconstructed. I think the longer they are out, it's the bigger the problem. The longer it's out, the more it stretches the ligaments and muscles around the joint … I don't think it's overly good news.
"He's in the best care, and it's just finding out the severity of it. Has he done other damage other than just dislocating it? Until they have a scan, we aren't gonna know.
"It's obviously not good news, but we're not quite sure of the severity of it."
However, with initial scans showing no signs of a fracture, Hughes has avoided a major obstacle in that he may be able to delay any potential reconstruction surgery until the post-season.
Melbourne were already without fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen because of a calf injury, while five-eighth Cameron Munster was unavailable on personal grounds relating to the recent death of his father.
Hughes was supposed to board an early-morning flight to Rockhampton with teammate Harry Grant, football manager Frank Ponissi and Bellamy to attend the funeral of Munster's father. He instead flew home to Melbourne.
Johns pointed to young half Jonah Pezet as a potential replacement in the No.7 jumper, while utility Tyran Wishart could also be an option.
"Their saving grace is they signed the young star Jonah Pezet," he said.
"He looked like he was going elsewhere, but he decided to stay on."
Following the current round, six weeks are remaining in the regular NRL season, with four weeks of finals culminating in the grand final on October 5.
