Hughes can on Sunday night become the first Kiwi spine player to win two premierships, if he guides the Storm to victory over Brisbane at Accor Stadium.
Already one of the most accomplished New Zealand halves in history, Hughes became the only Kiwi No.7 to win a grand final with Melbourne's success in 2020.
Veteran Kiwis have made no secret of their admiration of Hughes since he won that title, before also claiming last year's Dally M Medal.
Following a long line from Stacey Jones to Benji Marshall, Kieran Foran and Shaun Johnson, Hughes now looms as the next great New Zealand half.
The 30-year-old's stature has only grown in recent weeks, playing in this year's finals after fracturing his forearm and dislocating his shoulder in the past two months.
"There is no doubt that if he keeps tracking the way he is tracking, he will be one of the greatest New Zealand halves ever to play the game," Foran told AAP.
"I've got a huge opinion of him. I think he's been phenomenal. I absolutely think the world of him.
"His running game specifically is so much more elite than what we've seen in most halfbacks.
"The way he was able to come back off an injury lay-off last week and score that incredible try on a big stage, just shows where his game is at."
Hughes has brushed off any concern about lingering pain in his forearm following last week's return against Cronulla, insistent he felt fine through the match.
But after already impressing on return against Cronulla, Melbourne expect their spine to be better for a game together headed into Sunday's decider.
Foran himself won a grand final as a five-eighth in 2011, while Benji Marshall in 2005 is the other Kiwi playmaker to have done so this century.
In Foran's eyes, it is Hughes' evolution that has him at the top.
The pair have played eight Tests together, with Foran having first encountered Hughes when he was still transitioning from his early days as a fullback.
"It shows his humility and his want to evolve and learn," Foran said.
"Because when you look at his game, he was a fullback, and now he can do both.
"He can play like a game-managing half better than most game-managing halves.
"For the majority of that (preliminary final) game against the Sharks he kicked to corners and played the high-percentage play.
"But then he can break the game wide open. I just feel he's got it all, he's so elite in my eyes."
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