Advertisement

Ryan Papenhuyzen twist as Melbourne Storm hit by mixed news on Sua Fa'alogo and Eliesa Katoa

Craig Bellamy has some headaches heading into the first week of the NRL finals.

riley morgan
Sports Reporter
·4-min read

Ryan Papenhuyzen's return for the NRL finals couldn't come at a better time for the Storm after they were rocked with the injury of Sua Fa'alogo on Thursday night, although Eliesa Katoa has dodged a ban and is free to play. The Storm thrashed the Broncos 50-12 on Thursday night in in their final regular season game of the year to leave Kevin Walters facing more scrutiny after a horror season.

And while Craig Bellamy would have been thrilled at his team's rhythm heading into the NRL finals, the Storm were rocked with a number of major scares. Bellamy will be waiting on the fitness of utility and back-up fullback Fa'alogo after the youngster was seen leaving the field clutching at his hamstring.

Ryan Papenhuyzen (pictured right) is set to return next week for the Storm after the club was rocked with Eliesa Katoa (pictured left) on report and Sua Fa'alogo injured. (Images: Fox Sports/Getty Images)
Ryan Papenhuyzen (pictured right) is set to return next week for the Storm after the club was rocked with Eliesa Katoa (pictured left) on report and Sua Fa'alogo injured. (Images: Fox Sports/Getty Images)

Fa'alogo admitted he felt a 'pop' during his 57-minute hit-out at Suncorp Stadium having run 207 metres in a staggering display. “As he walked past me Sua Fa’alogo was in a fair bit of discomfort,” Corey Parker said on Fox Sports commentary.

“He won’t return tonight and he will be very unlikely to return in the next week or so given the fact he said he felt a bit of a tear in that left hamstring. Scans will determine how long, but a huge blow for the Storm given what we had seen from him this evening.”

Sua Fa'alogo.
Sua Fa'alogo went down with a hamstring injury. (Photo by Russell Freeman/Getty Images)

Many see Fa'alogo as the Storm's long-term fullback and his display in the absence of Papenhuyzen reassured Storm fans. Bellamy admitted the team was hoping Fa'alogo's injury was nothing serious with the coach confident the 21-year-old will feature off the bench in the finals.

"He is a great runner of the footy and like lightning," Bellamy said. "The more games we can get him the more he is going to learn about the game and the better player he will be."

A bigger concern was the availability of Katoa, although he dodged a ban on Friday morning. The second-rower has been devastating for the Storm this year having linked up with star halfback Jahrome Hughes on the right edge.

He could have been facing a grade-two dangerous contact charge for his tackle on Tristan Sailor late in the game, but he escaped with a fine and is free to play next week. Katoa has priors and a grade-two dangerous contact charge would have spelt trouble for the Storm.

Eliesa Katoa celebrates a try.
Eliesa Katoa (pictured left) was placed on report and faces a wait to see if he will be handed a ban ahead of the NRL Finals.

Sailor was not forced off the field as it was believed the tackle did not make sufficient force to his head. Bellamy admitted he was hoping the match review committee would take this into account when considering his punishment.

"We will be able to use that to our advantage I would imagine," Storm coach Bellamy added. "From where I was sitting I didn't think it was too bad and I was surprised that he went to the bin."

While the Storm wait to see the extent of Fa'alogo's injury, Bellamy reassured fans star fullback Papenhuyen was ready to return. Bellamy said the fullback could have returned this week, but they wanted to give him an extra week's rest before the finals.

"At a pinch Paps could have played this week but we didn't want to take that risk," Bellamy said. "We didn't want him to pull up sore and not train all next week leading into the finals so we thought that was the best way to go."

RELATED:

The Storm have showcased their depth in 2024 with players such as Tyran Wishart stepping when Cameron Munster was out for the majority of the season. And Bellamy praised his squad depth having suggested a number of players would be willing to come back at any stage if called upon.

"The guys that have come in have done such a good job, like Wishy (Tyran Wishart), Grant Anderson and Jack Howarth," Bellamy said. "They have really performed. Sometimes you put a player in and he is not ready for first grade but these guys after a week or two have grabbed the opportunity, run with it and made a success of it."