Bellamy backs Papenhuyzen for NSW Origin call-up
Melissa Woods |
Coach Craig Bellamy says Ryan Papenhuyzen won’t let NSW down if the superstar Storm fullback is finally given a chance in the State of Origin arena.
Papenhuyzen put his hand up for Origin selection with a record-breaking performance against Wests Tigers, scoring four tries among a club record personal haul of 36 points.
He crossed three times in the opening 17 minutes at AAMI Park on Sunday, to set Melbourne up for a 64-0 romp.
The 26-year-old has come achingly close to making his Origin debut in the past, only for injury to wreck his chances.
After helping the Storm to the 2020 premiership and winning the Clive Churchill Medal for MVP in the grand final, he was named in the extended NSW squad for the COVID-hit 2020 end-of-year Origin series before being forced out with a calf injury.
He started 2021 with a bang but missed the entire Origin period due to concussion. In 2022, it was hamstring and knee injuries, while in 2023 he was still recovering from a horror fractured knee-cap.
Last season, Papenhuyzen’s bad luck continued with an ankle fracture in round nine just prior to the Origin period.
Bellamy, a special advisor to Blues coach Laurie Daley, said Papenhuyzen was in “red-hot form”.
“I can’t remember too many players scoring three tries in that quick succession of time, especially at the start of the game, so he was certainly on the ball today and got some real rewards for him and the team,” Bellamy said.
“There’s a lot of good fullbacks around so that’ll be something for the selectors to decide but at the end of the day, he’s never going to let anyone down, without a doubt.”
Papenhuyzen faces some stiff competition for the NSW fullback jersey from incumbent, Panthers gun Dylan Edwards, who helped steer the Blues to a series victory last year.
Former NSW captain James Tedesco, who played in Origin I last year, has returned to imperious form with the Sydney Roosters.
Back in 2020 Papenhuyzen was included in the NSW squad by then coach Brad Fittler as a bench utility, after filling that role at the Storm before he made the No.1 jersey his own.
Bellamy said the former Australian Schoolboy and NSW under 20s representative could again handle such a job, providing the Blues with an injection of genuine speed.
“I think so,” he said. “Usually these days that fourth bench player can play dummy-half and play probably in the halves a little bit as well and I think he could do that well if he had to.Â
“At the end of the day, it’ll be up to the selectors and what they think but as I said, he won’t let anyone, or himself down.”
AAP
