A wide array determination is looming for Storm coach Craig Bellamy after Ryan Papenhuyzen’s blistering efficiency in reserve grade over the weekend.
Papenhuyzen missed a 12 months of footy after struggling a severe knee damage final season. The star fullback made his return to the sector a fortnight in the past through the Storm’s Queensland Cup feeder facet, Sunshine Coast Falcons.
He was stable in his first hitout however didn’t get a number of alternatives given he solely performed the primary half as a part of his return to play plan.
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But over the weekend he produced a way more Papenhuyzen-like efficiency for the Falcons, scoring a attempt to organising two whereas additionally getting a linebreak, two linebreak assists, six deal with busts and 127 operating metres. He additionally made a try-saving deal with and kicked 5 objectives from seven makes an attempt within the 40-18 win.
While Bellamy has stated there’s no set timeline for Papenhuyzen to return to first grade, it’s nearly sure to occur this season — and it may even be within the ultimate two rounds earlier than finals.
That means the coach goes to must make a name on the place Nick Meaney suits within the 17.
Meaney has been one of many Storm’s most constant gamers whereas filling in at fullback for Papenhuyzen. He has 10 tries and 9 attempt assists in 20 video games and leads the workforce in deal with busts, in addition to common run metres per recreation.
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Storm legend and Fox League knowledgeable analyst Cooper Cronk believes the pathway for Papenhuyzen again to NRL is through the bench — however solely after a bit extra time in Queensland Cup.
“I probably want to see a little bit more from him in reserve grade, but I think he can potentially come on and do the utility role off the bench to start with and then see where he’s at,” he stated.
“But he has to play at a certain level — this isn’t about just ‘put your boots on and get through 80 minutes of footy’, it’s ‘I need to see something from you’.
“If he hits those markers, absolutely get him back.”
The bench isn’t unfamiliar territory for Papenhuyzen, provided that’s the place his first grade profession began again in 2019.
Jahrome Hughes — now the Storm’s halfback — was the first-choice fullback in the beginning of 2019. Papenhuyzen was used a utility off the bench and needed to play within the center earlier than nailing down the No.1 jersey.
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Fast ahead to 2021, he was additionally eased again into play through the bench after a nasty concussion sidelined him for 2 months.
But when the 25-year-old does slot again in at fullback, Bellamy must decide on what to do with Meaney.
It was assumed Meaney was initially signed to fill the bench utility-style function Nicho Hynes left when he joined the Sharks. But he began in each recreation he performed final season — 10 of them on the wing, six at five-eighth and 6 at fullback.
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The 25-year-old is all however sure to be retained within the 17 — however the query is, the place?
As the very best five-eighth within the recreation, Cameron Munster has a mortgage on the No.6 jersey, which means the surface backs or bench is probably going the place Meaney will transfer.
He has solely performed one recreation within the centres vs 40 video games on the wing, however Xavier Coates is a must have on the wing, whereas Will Warbrick has been a breakout star on the opposite wing.
Unless Bellamy rolls the cube with Meaney within the centres, it’s nearly inevitable that he’ll transfer again to the bench.
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
