Gary Freeman is ready for another New Zealander to finally join him in his illustrious one-man club of Kiwi halfbacks who became Dally M Medal winners
And he wants that man to be Melbourne's Jahrome Hughes.
"Good luck to him, and I hope he does," Freeman, who will be in attendance at Wednesday night's medal ceremony, told AAP.
"The way that guy plays, he's a guy that Melbourne supporters would turn up to watch play.
"When he comes back into that side, you can just tell he is the leader. He organises, he is super super tough. Great kicking game.
"Being the first one to win one and then having another halfback come along from New Zealand to win one would be outstanding. Absolutely outstanding."
Freeman became the first New Zealander to win rugby league's most prestigious award in 1992.
He has since been joined by lock Jason Taumalolo and fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, while Shaun Johnson was cruelly denied his chance to become the second Kiwi halfback winner last year.
But this 2024 season from Hughes has to be close to the greatest by a New Zealand half, and has him primed to exact retribution for Johnson's miss.
With Cameron Munster out of the Storm team for almost half the year and Ryan Papenhuyzen returning from injury, the No.7 has taken charge.
The 29-year-old has put his stamp on the Melbourne side to the point where it is now his team, growing in confidence and leadership by the week.
"When you play football there is always someone that is more dominant than someone else," Freeman said.
"I think they have that combination where Cameron hasn't had to step up in the last couple of games, because Jahrome Hughes has been doing most of it.
"It's a fine line where you can step over the top or not play as well. Together they have a really good strong leadership and workmanship on the field.
"And I think that's what plays into his hands and why the Storm are going so well. Because those two together are very, very dangerous."
Freeman believes Canterbury's Stephen Crichton is the main challenger to Hughes's chances of winning the medal.
Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards led when votes went behind closed doors after round 12 on 31 points, but has missed a lot of football since then.
Manly's Daly Cherry-Evans was the highest placed of players who had an uninjured run through the second half of the season, but will have lost points to teammate Tom Trbojevic.
Penrith's Isaah Yeo was further back on 24 points and James Tedesco on 23, with the Roosters fullback the other leading contender.
Hughes was back in equal-15th on 16 points, but with six points already deducted from his tally after a suspension for touching referee Chris Butler.
"I think (James Tedesco) is going to win it. Teddy has been great all year," Hughes said.
"I probably wouldn't have thought about it if the buzz wasn't around there. You have guys like (Cameron) Munster in my ear a lot about it."
