Xavier Coates is hopeful of regaining Jahrome Hughes for Melbourne’s biggest game of the NRL season but says his star teammate will only return if completely back to his best.

The reigning Dally M Medallist fractured his forearm in Round 27 so watched from the sidelines as the Storm beat Canterbury in their qualifying final and earned a week’s rest.

Hughes impressed Coates with his progress at training on Monday and said last week he was feeling “pretty good” ahead of Friday’s grand final qualifier against Cronulla.

The halfback is set for more tests this week, with his possible return shaping as a huge boost to the Storm’s hopes of locking in a third grand final appearance in six seasons.

“It’d definitely be massive,” said winger Coates.

“He performed well at training today but h

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