Kiwis vs Kangaroos: New Zealand’s halves combination that could hold the key against Australia

When Jahrome Hughes and Dylan Brown first trained together for the Kiwis, they were in sync almost from the outset.

It was June last year, with the Parramatta’s Brown called up to the national side for the first time. While some partnerships in sports develop gradually over time, others seem to be in tune from the beginning.

“We sort of clicked straight away,” Hughes told the Herald. “Ever since we started training together and playing together we have become really good mates off the field, so that helps the combination as well, knowing each other off the field.”

They were roommates at last year’s World Cup – further enhancing the bond – and it shows in their play. They have only been international teammates for less than 18 months but have a great understanding, illustrated again in the emphatic 50-0 win over Samoa on Saturday.

“Between the two halves they directed the boys around, flipped the pressure and it sort of changed the momentum of the game,” observed coach Michael Maguire.”

Now comes the big test. If the Kiwis are to achieve a positive result over the next fortnight against the Kangaroos, so much depends on the duo. New Zealand has had some great scrum base combinations over the years – from Clayton Friend and Olsen Filipaina in the 1980s to Stacey Jones and Henry Paul in the 1990s and Shaun Johnson and Kieran Foran in the last decade – the current pair continue that tradition.

Jahrome Hughes of New Zealand. Photo / Photosport

“I felt that Jahrome and Dylan connected from what we did at the World Cup,” said Maguire. “We carried some disappointment from that experience but they grow from that as well, that’s the pleasing part. [Last week] I felt that both the halves got a hold of the team early in the week and that is something we will push going into this week as well.”

They both have strong running games – Hughes has 50 NRL tries in 127 games – but the Storm player focuses on the organisation and kicking, giving Brown a licence to roam in the black and white jersey.

“I’m more of a controlling kind of half and he does his own thing and that is when he is playing at his best,” observes Hughes. “I feel that is my role, to free him up as much as I can, similar to at my club, I try to free up [Cameron] Munster a bit and he can go off the cuff and do his stuff. [Dylan] is so dangerous running the ball and he showed that [on Saturday]. It’s just about developing little things on the field and learning a bit more about each other.”

Brown is still only 23 but is coming off his fifth NRL season. It was a disappointing campaign – as Parramatta nosedived from being grand finalists to missing the top eight – but Brown has shown his maturity, refocussing as he joins Kiwis camp. He’s a confident presence around the group, while Hughes is encouraging him to be more of a leader.

He knows he is young and inexperienced but he knows he has to step up, being in the halves,” said Hughes.

The halfback cut a painful figure as he emerged from the Kiwis’ dressing room on Saturday night, after a hard week of training and a physical match. “I’m pretty busted, the body is a bit sore but we go again next week,” laughed Hughes.

The 29-year-old was satisfied with the Kiwis’ opening assignment at Eden Park. They wanted to make an early statement – after being slow out of the blocks at last year’s World Cup – and delivered, taking the game away from Samoa after a tight first quarter.

Taking on the Kangaroos in Melbourne (Saturday 10.10pm) will be an entirely different assignment, before a rematch in the Pacific Championship final in Hamilton on November 4 but the Kiwis feel they are on the right trajectory.

“We have got things to work on,” said Hughes. “But it was a good way to start.”

Michael Burgess has been a sports journalist since 2005, winning several national awards and covering Olympics, Fifa World Cups and America’s Cup campaigns. He has also reported on the Warriors and NRL for more than a decade.