LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Melbourne Storm's general manager of football, Frank Ponissi, has announced that both Ryan Papenhuyzen and Jahrome Hughes are expected to participate in the upcoming preliminary final.
The Storm faced the qualifying final without either player but managed to secure a win against the depleted Canterbury Bulldogs. In contrast, the Bulldogs must quickly prepare for their semi-final against the four-time champions, the Penrith Panthers, this Sunday at Homebush.
This week off will allow the Storm to rest, as they await the victor of the semi-final between the Canberra Raiders and Cronulla Sharks. The team that wins will need to make the journey to Victoria on a six-day turnaround, but Ponissi indicated that they may be up against a fully fit Storm squad.
Papenhuyzen was already set to return after missing the first week of finals due to a concussion. Meanwhile, Hughes's situation was less certain; he had broken his wrist during Round 27 against the Brisbane Broncos, a match where he was coming back from a previous injury that sidelined him for the latter part of the regular season.
Ponissi mentioned on SEN Radio, "We had a couple of big outs for the first final in Ryan Papenhuyzen and Jahrome Hughes that were both out injured." He added, "Ryan's got to get through his HIA protocols, so he's looking good at the moment."