LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
In a thrilling NRL Pre-season Challenge match, Melbourne's Ryan Papenhuyzen made a triumphant return to the field, showcasing his incredible skills.
However, the Bulldogs, playing in their home ground, proved to be too powerful, emerging victorious with a score of 24-12.
The first half was dominated by the Bulldogs, who excelled in every aspect of the game, yet found themselves trailing by two points at halftime.
Papenhuyzen's exceptional speed and agility allowed him to catch a perfectly executed kick from a rehearsed scrum move, resulting in a try for the Storm.
Canterbury's Eli Clark wasted no time opening the scoring just five minutes into the game, thanks to Reed Mahoney's brilliant pass.
The Storm's Dean Ieremia quickly responded, capitalizing on Papenhuyzen's brilliant backline play.
The Bulldogs' Blake Wilson then regained the lead with a stunning display of skill, evading Melbourne's defense to score a try.
Throughout the match, the Bulldogs' halfbacks, Drew Hutchison and Matt Burton, provided incredible support on both sides of the field, while Blake Taaffe added an extra spark from the back and Jaeman Salmon showcased his exceptional ball-playing skills in the lock position.
The Bulldogs' relentless attacking threats kept the Storm on their toes.