Melbourne Storm hasn’t lost an opening round game since 2001 and Ryan Papenhuyzen has overcome injuries to take his place against Parramatta
It’s been two decades since Melbourne Storm lost an opening round match, and despite fitness doubts, one superstar is ready to fire.
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The surprise inclusion of superstar Melbourne fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen for a round 1 home game the club demanded could prove the crucial element as the Storm looks to continue a stunning winning streak that has stretched for 22 years against Parramatta on Sunday.
Storm captain Harry Grant said Papenhuyzen was ready despite battling knee and ankle issues during the pre-season, with the premiership fancies out to win their opening round match for the 23rd straight year, 21 of them under coach Craig Bellamy.
Melbourne chief executive Justin Rodski confirmed his club wanted a home opener this weekend, with the opening round of the AFL moved north to Sydney and Brisbane and now reduced to just Friday and Sunday games due to Cyclone Alfred.
Speaking on his podcast this week, Papenhuyzen said Bellamy had thrown him “under the bus” by declaring the fullback was doubtful to take on the Eels after missing both of his team’s trial games.
“He said it was my knee and ankle and made it sound like I’m breaking down – it’s not my ankle, it’s just my knee, Papenhuyzen told the 167 Podcast he hosts with teammates Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster.
“I had a little tear in my meniscus and while that’s sweet now I’ve got a little stitching from my knee surgery that’s calcified … that’s just caused a bit of irritation.
“I’ve run the last couple of training sessions. It just seems to be one thing after the next, but it’s not too bad. I’ve just got to manage what it is. Hopefully, I get the all clear.”
He was named in the team on Tuesday and Grant said Papenhuyzen was a “resilient bugger” and would take his place at AAMI Park on Sunday.
“He’s just been training and completed all his training since off the back of that trial,” Grant said on Wednesday.
“We know what ‘Paps’ is like, he’s a resilient bugger, and he’s professional with the way he does these things.
“He’ll definitely be ready to go round 1.”
Storm has never lost an opening round match under Bellamy, a run that began when he took over in 2003.
Melbourne is coming up against an Eels side coached by former Storm player, and assistant coach, Jason Ryles, and Grant expects them to be “big improvers”.
“I come in with the mindset that they’re going to be – you look at the competition, and it’s so level, it’s so even,” he said.
“But I know Parramatta are going to be really big improvers from last season and be super competitive this year.
“I know what ‘Rylesy’ brings as a person, as a coach and some of the things that he’ll have in play for them as a team.”
The NRL will be the only football code in action in Melbourne on Sunday, which Rodski said was a “perfect” start to the year.
“That was one of our (fixture) requests that we put into the NRL to make sure we had a (home) game in round 1,” he said.
“We’re made for Melbourne, we’re really proud of our heritage here in Melbourne, and we’re really excited about getting a big crowd at AAMI Park.
“It’s really significant and important for us to kick off the season with no AFL in town, and to be the only fixture on a Sunday afternoon of the long weekend is perfect.”
Originally published as Melbourne Storm hasn’t lost an opening round game since 2001 and Ryan Papenhuyzen has overcome injuries to take his place against Parramatta
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