NRL Late Mail round 20: Ryan Papenhuyzen ‘calf strain’ will be managed for rest of season

It was initially referred to by the Storm as only “calf tightness”, but after three weeks out Ryan Papenhuyzen has revealed the full extent of his injury.

Storm star Ryan Papenhuyzen says his lingering calf issue will likely need to be managed for the rest of the season.

Papenhuyzen will miss his third game in a row this weekend due to an injury initially referred to by the Storm as “calf tightness”.

Although the man himself says the injury is a “calf strain”.

Papenhuyzen told his 167Podcast: “I just got a little calf strain.

“I did it in the Souths game a few weeks ago.

“I played the Sharks game and just felt it again and then I tried to get up for the Cowboys but it wasn’t quite right.

“Then we just shut it down for the week against the Knights because I knew I wasn’t playing then.

“And then this week, I’m trying to run tomorrow so it’s probably a bit too late to be named in the squad, to then be pulled out.

“(We have a) short turnaround into the Roosters as well. If I played this week I probably wouldn’t have played against the Roosters …

“I hate how they (the Storm) put out there as ‘calf tightness’ and I’m like ‘tell them it’s a strain.’

“A strain and tightness, they are not too different, it’s not like I’ve ruptured it.

“When you say calf tightness for three weeks, I think people who can read between the lines can see that it’s more.

Papenhuyzen earlier confirmed on 2GB that he’ll need to manage the injury for the rest of the year.

Full Late Mail to come

Originally published as NRL Late Mail round 20: Ryan Papenhuyzen ‘calf strain’ will be managed for rest of season