The local boy turned professional rugby league ­player has focused his energy off the field on the ­formation of a charity foundation, ­following his own ­serious health scare.

Hughes will share his story at the 50th anniversary of the Maitland Sportsperson of the Year awards ­dinner.

Mercury  sports journalist JOSH CALLINAN caught up with the 1997 and 2001 NRL grand final winner in the lead-up to tonight’s ­milestone ­ceremony.

Mark Hughes looks at rugby league a little differently these days.

The one-time Maitland ­schoolboy, Kurri Kurri Bulldogs champion, two-time Newcastle Knights premiership winner and NSW representative was on his way to training when he crossed paths with the Mercury during the week. 

It wasn’t to run alongside ­former teammates Andrew Johns, Billy Peden and Danny Buderus on the brink of another NRL season, but in a coaching ­capacity.

And after taking the reins of his nine-year-old son’s team, Hughes reckons Wayne Bennett has little to worry about.

“Wayne doesn’t have to look over his shoulder too much,” Hughes delivered in his ­characteristic dry wit.

“There’s not too much ­running around [at training], just as there’s not too much ­listening ... you’ve just got to make sure the kids are getting skills and they are enjoying it.

“The results don’t matter as much and that’s what I’m trying to focus on.

“But it’s different being the coach and I admire anyone who coaches at any level, whether it’s under 7s or first grade, it’s a tough job.” 

Hughes also looks at life a little differently these days.

After his 10-year professional rugby league career, which included 161 games for the Knights and a ­season with the Catalans Dragons, Hughes chooses beans over burgers, hot yoga ahead of heat rub and fund-raising before fandom.

And little wonder.

The 37-year-old father-of-three continues to undergo treatment for brain cancer after he had an ­avocado-sized malignant tumour removed in August. 

“It’s been a big year, there’s no doubt about that, but I’ve had such support and strength around me that I’ve just sort of fed off that,” Hughes said.

“I’ve got a couple of months of treatment to go in chemotherapy, which I get in tablet form. 

“But I’ve been doing a lot of good things and I’ve never eaten healthier. 

“My wife Kirralee has really been instrumental in helping me with my diet and she does a lot of research to make sure I’m giving myself every chance to be healthy.”

The major health scare has ­affected all aspects of Hughes’ life, including the exercise routine of the now Merewether-based cleaning business owner.

“I haven’t been doing as much swimming but I’ve been doing a bit more hot yoga,” he said.

“I do that about three times a week ... you’re in a room, the heaters are on so it’s hot, you’re doing a lot of stretching or holding and you get a really good sweat up.

“It’s probably not something up Maitland or Kurri way that much and I wouldn’t want people seeing me do it, but it’s something I’m doing and it’s making me feel good, for mind and body, so I’ll continue to do that.” 

Not only has Hughes been able to deal with a cruel twist of fate on an individual and family level, the local sporting identity has seen his situation as an opportunity.

“It’s the journey and path I’ve been given now and I’ve got a great opportunity to help people in my position and to make a difference,” Hughes said.

“That’s why I’ve decided to not muck around – I’m still going through treatment but with my little team of people helping me, we said let’s get this thing rolling.”

He launched the Mark Hughes Foundation in October, which was announced in the Mercury, with a golf day in the vineyards which raised an incredible $18,000.

“We’ve put in a lot of work into ­getting the logos and getting it all registered, which is all very ­exciting” he said.

“We’re going to be helping with brain cancer research, also helping families and patients in different ways as part of the Mark Hughes Foundation.

“We’ve still got a few things to finalise ... we’re talking with HMRI [Hunter Medical Research Institute], to partner up with them a little bit because they are a fantastic organisation doing some fantastic things up at John Hunter Hospital in regards to research.”

Friday night’s 50th anniversary Maitland Sportsperson of the Year awards dinner will double as a 

fund-raiser for the Mark Hughes Foundation, including a charity auction which began online at the Mercury website and will be finalised at the ceremony.

“I can’t thank the Maitland Mercury and the people of Maitland enough for giving me an opportunity to basically kick it [the foundation] off,” Hughes said. 

“I can’t wait to get up there and see everyone Friday night and I’m sure it will be a great night.”

It is an award and indeed a venue he knows well.

Hughes was the recipient of the city’s highest individual sporting honour in 1997, just a few months after winning the Knights’ maiden premiership, and he proudly paraded the trophy through High Street, past his old high school St Peter’s, and into a packed Maitland Town Hall.

“We [the Knights] had a parade in Newcastle, which was enormous,” he said.

“So that was an amazing day but I really got a lot of pleasure out of going to Maitland and going to Cessnock ... that really felt like home. 

“To go and see people in the streets that you knew and you grew up with was really special.

“I remember that Maitland one well and I remember we ended up in the Town Hall – great memories.”

He recalled a little less from the awards night but conceded he hadn’t expected to make the illustrious honour roll, which included the likes of Australian rugby league representatives Terry Pannowitz and Jim Morgan, Olympians Don Brook, Simon Orchard and Brendan Sexton, the country’s youngest Paralympic medallist Maddi Elliott,Stawell Gift winners Josh Ross and Trisha Greaves and ­inaugural champion, Commonwealth Games representative, Marguerite Ruygrok.

“I just remember going along, my parents came, and we were just ­really excited,” he said.

“I didn’t expect to win it or anything. 

“I didn’t feel like I should have won, but I did so I was very grateful.

“Being an old St Peter’s boy I spent a lot of time in Maitland, so it will always be a special place for me.”