Craig Bellamy sat in one corner of the away dressing sheds at Belmore Sportsground late Thursday, looked over at Ryan Papenhuyzen and said: “The best thing that happened for us tonight was him getting through that 40 minutes.
“Before Christmas I didn’t think he would start the season, and you could just tell he had a lot of doubt, which is understandable,” Bellamy told this masthead.
“He was treading very warily.
“But a couple of weeks after Christmas, he perked right up. He was training a lot better, he was feeling a lot better about himself, and slowly but surely, his speed came back.
“Then to do what he did just then [against Canterbury] was tremendous. He was really confident. And you can just see what he’s got. He’s hardly played a game in two years and plays like he did. I’m so happy for him.
“He brings a lot to this team. He’s one of our leaders, has a great footy brain, always measured with his opinions, has the respect of the younger players but also the older players with how he sees the game and leads.”
Ryan Papenhuyzen is hoping to stay on the field this season after a horror run with injuries.Credit: Getty Images
Papenhuyzen set up a try and then bagged one himself when racing through after a Jonah Pezet kick to score right on half-time during the Storm’s 24-12 loss to Canterbury.
It was just the blowout Papenhuyzen needed after three years of interruptions caused by serious injuries and concussion. He has played just 30 games from a possible 77 for the Storm since the start of 2021.
The plan will be to give Papenhuyzen some game time in Fiji next week, but how many minutes will depend on the humidity – which is about 95 per cent on the tiny island in February – and the state of the playing surface.
One player whose game time will be definitely capped is Cameron Munster who has been troubled by a calf injury.
The Storm fullback survived 40 minutes against CanterburyCredit: Getty Images
“He’s had some little issues with his calf and hasn’t trained the past couple of weeks, but he’s close, and he’ll certainly want to play in Fiji – he’ll be right in round one,” Bellamy said of Munster.
As for Papenhuyzen, the 25-year-old said he could not recall feeling as good as he felt heading into Wednesday’s captain’s run before the Dogs’ hitout.
“It didn’t take me long to realise I’m fine, I’m good to go, and I feel in as good a shape as I’ve ever been in,” Papenhuyzen said.
“Now it’s just about getting the reps in. It’s one of those feelings where you run out there and feel like you’ve achieved something.
“My body, mentally, everything, I’m really refreshed and excited to play footy again.
“”[Round one] is a good test, and this was a good stepping stone towards that – that’s why I was really keen to play in the first and second trials, just so I know I can [be ready].”
Blake Taaffe did not disappoint at fullback for Canterbury, nor did Bronson Xerri, whose first game in 1615 days after serving a four-year doping ban had him battling the worst pre-game nerves he had experienced.
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