LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
The Melbourne Storm face a significant setback as they prepare for their NRL grand final rematch against the Panthers, with Ryan Papenhuyzen ruled out. Meanwhile, the Warriors have addressed speculation about Jett Cleary's potential NRL debut. Papenhuyzen had recently returned after a four-week absence due to a calf strain and had played well, contributing to the Storm's victories over the Eels and the Broncos.
In his return, Papenhuyzen scored against the Broncos, showcasing his strong partnership with Harry Grant and Cameron Munster, as the Storm aims to close in on the Canberra Raiders for the minor premiership. Fans were eagerly anticipating an exciting duel between in-form fullbacks, Dylan Edwards and Papenhuyzen.
However, coach Craig Bellamy caught fans off guard by leaving Papenhuyzen off the roster, citing a concussion. There was no indication he sustained the injury during their last game, as he did not undergo a HIA against the Broncos, suggesting he might have either experienced delayed concussion symptoms or incurred the injury during training.
Nick Meaney has been named to fill the fullback position, tasked with helping the Storm continue their winning streak. A loss could see the team drop behind the Bulldogs into third place. Papenhuyzen's absence adds to the challenges facing the Storm, who are already managing several injuries, the most significant being the dislocation of Jahrome Hughes's shoulder. Hughes, last season's Dally M medallist, is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season.
Amid speculation about Hughes's possible early return, Bellamy sought to temper expectations. "I don't think we're any wiser than we were last week," he said regarding Hughes' status. "He seems to be coming on pretty well, and the physios are happy with the way he's coming on, so hopefully we'll get him back sooner rather than later. I'd just love to see him play a game before the finals to be quite honest, so we'll just see how that goes. We've got four weeks before the finals now, so we'll just see what happens."