Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has a major headache in the lead-up to the NRL season-opener after he revealed Ryan Papenhuyzen is in doubt to be fit for Round 1.
Papenhuyzen was absent in the Storm’s opening pre-season trial match, a 30-18 loss to the NZ Warriors at Casey Fields, as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury.
While the 2020 Clive Churchill Medal winner has not yet been ruled out, Bellamy told Fox League he is facing a race against time to be fit for the March 12 clash against the Wests Tigers.
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With Papenhuyzen sidelined, Cameron Munster and Nick Meaney were both given minutes in the fullback role, with Munster logging a full 80 minutes of action.
Bellamy said both Munster and Meaney could be options to full the void in the No.1 jersey until Papenhuyzen returns. Munster ran for 97 metres in 12 runs while Meaney logged 50 metres in five runs.
The win was a terrific result for the Warriors after looking like they’d be blown off the park in the opening minutes of the match.
Xavier Coates continued his strong pre-season for his new club, scoring with his first touch of the match, before a Brandon Smith try helped double the Storm’s lead.
However, a first-half double from Marcelo Montoya got the Warriors back into the match before Reece Walsh set the match alight after coming off the bench.
Walsh, who is suspended for Round 1 due to an off-field incident from last September, scored a try in the final minute of the first half before setting up another in the second half in a brilliant cameo.
The 19-year-old copped a knock to the head for his troubles while setting up the try for Junior Ratuva which effectively sealed the match for the Warriors and was forced to leave the field after bleeding from his tongue.
After a review of the play from the NRL Bunker, Melbourne’s Jonah Pezet was banished to the sin bin in the 75th minute, before Matt Lodge added the Warriors’ sixth try of the match in the dying seconds.
The Warriors will face the Gold Coast Titans in the second week of pre-season trials while the Storm will play the Newcastle Knights.