Warner's 10th Test century helped Australia finish the first day at 354 for six.
"It is probably the best knock of my career," said an emotional Warner after the day's play.
"Hopefully, I can score some more hundreds later on but this is definitely going to stick with me for the rest of my life. Throughout the innings I had this gut feeling that my little mate (Hughes) was with me at the other end, all the time from ball one.
Warner said he had initially thought of not celebrating his century.
Also Read
"I thought of not celebrating my hundred, but then Hughes would have wanted me to, knowing him. Michael (Clarke) was at the other end with me and he said he would have been proud of me. Even he (Clarke) raised his bat when he was batting on 37 not out and I hope Michael can come out tomorrow and get the rest of his 40-odd runs," he added.
"There was a chance that I might not have played this Test. In the first net session on Friday, I was nowhere. Later I took some throwdowns because I couldn't let emotion take over. It is just one of those times when you have to keep soldiering on. Before the game started, I found it quite hard but later regrouped and played with my instinct.