Melbourne superstar Cameron Munster is “touch and go” for Friday’s heavyweight round one clash against Penrith after aggravating a calf injury in an accident in his bathroom, Storm coach Craig Bellamy has revealed.
The Storm are chasing a remarkable 22nd straight round-one victory, but Bellamy said the club were sweating on the fitness of Munster.
Munster missed both trials because of a calf injury, with Jonah Pezet on standby to join Jahrome Hughes in the halves at AAMI Park.
“‘Mun’ will be touch and go,” Bellamy told this masthead. “We thought he’d be back a couple of weeks ago, but he had a bit of a setback. It wasn’t at training actually, he had a little accident at home.
“I think there was something in the shower and he’s slipped. He didn’t re-injure it, but he’s [over-]stretched it again. We thought he may have played in that last trial [in Fiji], but he was a fair way away from returning after that incident at home.
“Fingers crossed he’ll be OK and he will get some training in next week. If he does, we’ll certainly play him Friday night. If Mun doesn’t play, Jonah will be the one.”
Cameron Munster is racing the clock to be fit for Friday’s clash against Penrith.Credit: NRL Photos
Sea Eagles star Tom Trbojevic insisted at the start of 2021 he injured his hamstring when slipping on the tiles at home in the bathroom, and not racing ‘Harry’ in a foot race down the Manly Corso.
Munster is desperate to bounce back to form, and revealed over the summer he lacked confidence for the first time in his career, and even started second-guessing himself going into games after the Origin period.
Meanwhile, Bellamy was quick to shoot down concerns Sua Fa’alogo’s monster deal would push Ryan Papenhuyzen onto the outer. The Storm signed Fa’alogo until the end of 2028 on Thursday, and given his preference to play fullback, questions were immediately asked about what it meant for Papenhuyzen, who is off contract at the end of 2025.
“We think they’re both really good players, they’re both really good people, and we’d love both of them to spend the rest of their careers with us,” Bellamy said.
Ryan Papenhuyzen was excellent in his two trial gamesCredit: Getty Images
Fa’alogo scored two tries on debut against the Broncos last year, then proved a handful against the Kangaroos when starting at fullback for Samoa.
Bellamy was ready to carry Fa’alogo on the bench, but that will not happen for at least the opening couple of weeks of the NRL season, and he remains an outside chance of being fit for Queensland Cup.
Regardless, Papenhuyzen has a mortgage on the fullback position, especially the way he has bounced back from a broken ankle in the two trials. If he stays fit, the Storm are top-two contenders.
“Sua isn’t playing at the moment because he hurt his shoulder, so he won’t be starting in first grade,” Bellamy said. “He’ll start in Queensland Cup somewhere, but you’d like to think he won’t be there too long. We won’t rush him back. It wasn’t a major injury, but it was a nasty injury for a couple of weeks. He’s back doing a bit of contact.
Sua Fa’alogo signed a monster deal this week to stay at the Storm until the end of 2028.Credit: NRL Photos
“He can play a few different roles for us. Fullback is his best position, but it’s not the only position he can play. He can play on the wing, he can do a job for a little bit of time in the middle with his pace and footwork. I don’t think he’d have much trouble playing in the halves if he had to for a little bit coming off the bench.
“As for Paps, everyone in rugby league would like to see him have a fair run. He’s had a tough run the last two or three years [with injuries].
“Everyone is so happy he’s back, he really adds something to our team, and the two games he’s played in the trials, that’s given him a real sense of confidence.
“Given the run Paps has had, you’d have to have some doubts there at some stage, but he’s worked hard in the pre-season, and you can tell he’s got that confidence after a couple of trials. He’s been great – he’s been really good for the whole team.”
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