Ryan Papenhuyzen scores four consecutive tries as Storm rout Broncos
Broncos coach Kevin Walters has come under fire from NRL champions over a last minute selection backflip, as Brisbane was torn apart by a Ryan Papenhuyzen masterclass.
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Broncos coach Kevin Walters has come under attack for the selection backflip that saw him drop halfback Brodie Croft on the eve of Brisbane’s heavy 40-6 loss to the Storm.
NRL Immortal Mal Meninga and former Penrith halfback great Greg Alexander took aim at Walters following his eleventh-hour decision to axe Croft and elevate Tom Dearden.
Just 24 hours before the round-four showdown, Walters played mind games with Storm rival Craig Bellamy, insisting Croft would start as he intimated 18th man Dearden would be a late inclusion on Brisbane’s bench.
In the end, Dearden was thrust into the starting side, while Croft was demoted to the bench, but the smoke-and-mirrors tactic exploded in Walters’ face as his halves struggled in a seven-tries-to-one rout.
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Titans culture boss Meninga was later critical of Walters’ selection stance, questioning why Croft was dropped after he steered Brisbane to a 24-0 defeat of the Bulldogs the previous week.
“I’m no clearer on his (Walters’) reasoning … do you change your halves when you have a victory?” Meninga said on Fox Sports.
“I hope they (Croft and Dearden) know the reasons, I hope those conversations are going on behind the scenes.
“The dilemma is when did Tom know he was starting … and when was Brodie told he was on the bench?”
After playing just seven minutes against the Bulldogs, Dearden was given his big chance against the Storm, but the 20-year-old rarely saw good ball as Melbourne’s forward hulks dominated the midfield.
Croft played the final 26 minutes against his former Storm club but by then, the Broncos were trailing 24-6 and hurtling towards a three defeat from four matches.
Walters defended his late scrumbase switch, believing the off-contract Dearden deserved a promotion after his try off the bench against the Bulldogs.
“I just thought that Tom was pushing his way through there,” he said.
“We had to give him an opportunity. Brodie has been playing good, but it was an opportunity for Tom.”
Former NSW Origin playmaker Alexander believes Walters is giving Croft and Dearden mixed messages.
“Your dummy half and halves, they can’t be guessing if they are in the side or not,” Alexander said.
“Kevin is not sure who the best seven and six are and I’m not convinced I know either.”
Walters lamented the 11-minute window that saw Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen bury the Broncos with four tries.
“That period was damning for us,” he said.
“We have to look at that area. That’s three times this season where the opposition have put on two, three or four quick tries on us … that really hurts.”
PAPENHUYZEN GOES OFF
Ryan Papenhuyzen announced himself as the NRL’s newest superstar with an electrifying display.
That’s right, superstar.
He was already a star before the 40-6 demolition.
With that performance, he’s now reached a new dimension.
The Storm fullback had a hat-trick before halftime, which included four tries in 11 minutes, to have 24 points in the first 40 minutes.
He also had a try assist in the second half and came agonisingly close to scoring a fifth when he flew high but lost control of the ball as he came down to the ground over the try line.
As it stands, he has a record 201 SuperCoach points – and that’s only likely to go up.
It was the type of performance that will have star Rooster and NSW Blues’ incumbent fullback James Tedesco nervous.
It will be some fight for that Blues’ Origin jersey this year, with the Melbourne speedster now banging on the door.
Brisbane showed great heart early and when Xavier Coates scored a 75-metre try against the run of play in the sixth minute, the Broncos dared to dream of their first defeat of the Storm in 1680 days.
Enter Papenhuyzen.
Brisbane have now lost nine consecutive games against the Storm. And with upcoming games against Souths (a), Penrith (h) and Parramatta (a), the Broncos are in danger of a 1-6 start to the season.
A SOFT CENTRE
The Broncos need more from Pat Carrigan and Tevita Pangai Jnr as middle forwards.
Carrigan has made some poor handling errors in the past fortnight. This time, the Broncos No.13, usually so solid in defence, was steamrolled by Justin Olam for Papenhuyzen’s 30th-minute try which gave the hosts a crucial 12-6 lead.
Pangai Jnr missed two tackles which directly led to Papenhuyzen tries. From a 6-0 lead, Brisbane were shot at 24-6. That’s the compounding effect of the sloppy missed tackles Brisbane’s forwards keep producing.
PAYNE-FUL STUFF
Payne Haas is a virtual one-man band in the Broncos’ pack.
Returning from an NRL-imposed three-game suspension, Haas pledged to atone for his sins and the NSW Origin enforcer did his best to lift an outgunned Broncos forward unit with a tireless display.
The 118kg monster finished with 146 metres, 15 runs and six tackle-busts. Not one other Broncos forward made a tackle break in the first half, nor made 100 metres in them match. Haas’ cohorts need to help him or the 21-year-old will burn out.
OLAM THE REDEEMER
The PNG centre endured a tough week heading into the Broncos game.
He took “full responsibility” for his side’s last gasp loss to Penrith the previous week after failing to pass to an open Josh Addo-Carr in the corner right at the death when they trailed by two points.
He bounced back in the best possible way against Brisbane, setting up two of Papenhuyzen’s early tries with some crafty work.
UN-STORM LIKE OPENING
Storm could not buy a completion early.
In humid, sticky conditions better suited to the Broncos, Melbourne made a number of uncharacteristic handling areas that would have had Craig Bellamy pulling his hair out.
His side completed only two of its first six sets.
Another turnover allowed Xavier Coates to run the length of the field, outrunning speedster Addo-Carr to score the opener in front of a shocked Melbourne crowd.
It wasn’t long, however, until Storm woke from its slumber and it would not let in another point.
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