A Ryan Papenhuyzen hat-trick has put the Sharks’ season on life-support as the fullback rediscovered his best form to lead the Storm to a 28-16 win tonight.
The fullback’s second-coming couldn’t have come at a better time just a week out from finals, as he lifted the Storm to their fifth minor premiership at Cbus Stadium.
The 23-year-old had struggled since returning from a two-month layoff following a shocking hit that left him floored in Magic Round, as he dealt with the ongoing issues of concussion.
But tonight, Papenhuyzen threw caution to the wind and emphatically declared the Storm No.1 jersey back in business as he single-handedly took Cronulla’s fate out of their hands.
“It felt really good tonight, I don’t know, it was sort of this thing the last few weeks I couldn’t nail it down and tonight I just came out got a bit lucky,” Papenhuyzen said at full-time.
“I think I just got to bring it back to the simple things I think that’s what I did well tonight. Just put myself in the picture to get the ball and I was lucky enough to be on the end of a few tries. Still, a bit to go but I’m pretty happy with that.
“I feel good. I said a few weeks ago I just had to build confidence it was going to take a bit of time. But tonight was the game I needed and I was just lucky it was the game before the finals.”
Papenhuyzen scores his first try since round six late in the first half off a slaloming run deep in Cronulla territory.
He’d back that up in the second period when he motored away off a Harry Grant linebreak, and moments later, got onto the end of a smart grubber from Jahrome Hughes.
it means Cronulla will now be forced to sweat on the result of the Titans’ clash with the Warriors on Sunday afternoon, with a 16-point differential all but protecting the Sharks should Gold Coast emerge victorious.
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