Storm superstar to sit out Newcastle trip
Margie McDonald |
Ryan Papenhuyzen will again be missing from Melbourne’s line-up as coach Craig Bellamy shuffles his team once more to accommodate injury and post-State of Origin fatigue.
Last weekend Papenhuyzen was a late withdrawal against North Queensland with calf tightness and the fullback has been forced out of Saturday’s match against Newcastle at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Nick Meaney, the two-try hero from Townsville, will again move from the centres and into the No.1 jersey.
Bellamy had five players involved in the NSW and Queensland series decider in Sydney, and two – Maroons five-eighth Cameron Munster and winger Xavier Coates – have been rested and did not travel with the team.
Following the death of his father Steve, Munster bravely led Queensland to a 24-12 victory at Accor Stadium.
“It’s been tough for him … what he did on Wednesday was quite remarkable actually,” Bellamy said on Friday before the Storm’s Captain’s Run.
Melbourne’s three Origin forwards Stefano Utoikamanu (NSW), Harry Grant and Trent Loireo (both QLD) performed light recovery duties.
Utoikamanu and Loireo were named on the bench but Grant is in jersey No.21 on the extended bench.
“We’ll be a bit wiser after today,” Bellamy added, having scheduled the session later in the day than normal to give his Origin stars extra rest.
“Cameron won’t be playing but Harry is here and so is Trent – they’re a chance of playing. Stefano is confident of playing but I’ll just see how it goes after training.”
Tyran Wishart will again partner Dally M winner Jahrome Hughes in the halves after teaming up in the 26-20 win over the Cowboys.
The Knights game is a homecoming of sorts for the Storm’s Jonah Pezet and Grant Anderson, who enjoyed their junior football in the Hunter.
Pezet played his first NRL game in more than a year last weekend, with 28 minutes off the bench as a halves utility.
He tore his ACL against Newcastle in round three last year but on his return through NSW Cup in April this year, he had to undergo further knee surgery.
“He’s had to do a lot of work to get back,” Bellamy said.
“With all due respect if you asked the question we probably wouldn’t be thinking he’d be playing first grade so early.
“But he’s trained well, looked after himself well. After what he’s been through he expects, and we do too, for him to get a little bit better each game he plays.”
The Knights are coming off a bye and also have backs Fletcher Hunt and Greg Marzhew and prop Leo Thompson returning.
AAP
