He subsequently shifted to the centres where he played in the Knights' 2001 NRL grand final victory.
[3] Having won the 2001 NRL Premiership, the Knights traveled to England to play the 2002 World Club Challenge against Super League champions, the Bradford Bulls.
Hughes was selected for all three games for the New South Wales Blues in the 2001 Origin series where he played at fullback.
Hughes said "I remember how nervous and stiff The Parramatta players were and how they were dressed in their "Miami Vice black suits" to the grand final breakfast".
At the end of 2005, he left the Knights to join French club the Catalans Dragons for the 2006 Super League season.