Jahrome Hughes, Nick Meaney and Nelson Asofa-Solomona all hurt in Melbourne Storm’s win over Penrith

Three big injuries soured Melbourne Storm’s gripping win in the NRL grand final rematch but the match review officer cleared one superstar after he was placed on report.

A broken hand to star Melbourne Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes, a facial fracture for centre Nick Meaney and a concussion to man mountain Nelson Asofa-Solomona took some significant sparkle off the team’s gritty win in a physically demanding grand final rematch with Penrith on Thursday night.

But Ryan Papenhuyzen was cleared of any injury after coach Craig Bellamy said the star fullback had a “crook ankle”, and superstar playmaker Cameron Munster was cleared by the match review officer after being put on report for a hip-drop tackle on Liam Martin in some positive news.

Hughes played out the game after suffering in the collision with Panthers star Nathan Cleary that resulted in his concussion. Scans confirmed the fracture and last year’s Dally M award winner will miss two weeks.

Meaney was collected accidentally by teammate Asofa-Solomona, who was attempting to make a tackle but clashed heads in the process and has been ruled out for six weeks.

Meaney’s absence will leave a huge hole for the Storm because of his goalkicking abilities and dependability in the centres.

“They’re thinking Nick’s got a broken cheekbone,” Bellamy said.

Asofa-Solomona also suffered as a result of the same incident and has entered concussion protocols after he failed a head injury assessment post-match.

They weren’t the only Storm players to feel the effects of a brutal clash of the heavyweight sides.

Winger Grant Anderson was down on the field clutching at a knee but cleared of a long-term injury.

Grant Anderson is attended to by a trainer. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Anderson’s reaction to the injury on the bench shortly after gives Storm hope that scans will reveal that he has escaped any serious damage.

“GA, he came off, but he wanted to go back on again, so I’m not quite sure what his situation is,” Bellamy said.

There will be a watch on star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen ahead of the Storm’s clash with St George Illawarra Dragons next Saturday.

Papenhuyzen, one of five Storm individual try scorers, injured his ankle but battled on.

“Paps has got a bit of a crook ankle,” Bellamy said.

“That right edge was a bit of a jigsaw in the last 15 or 20 minutes.”

The injuries presented an opportunity for Storm’s super sub Tyran Wishart to impact the game and he did so with a crucial late try.

“Wishy (Tyran Wishart) came on and did a really good job,” Bellamy said.

“You know, just such an important player in our team in that you can say is versatile, he can play any position.

“I just thought he’d done a tremendous job out there today.”

Ryan Papenhuyzen played out the game, scoring a try late. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Bellamy was pleased with Asofa-Solomona’s impact in his first game back from suspension.

The hulking forward provided the intimidation factor in the Storm pack, even if he was a little rusty with a couple of dropped balls.

“I thought he had an impact,” Bellamy said.

“A couple of times he was probably a bit too bull-at-a-gate type thing.

“It was good to have him back out there and playing footy again.”

Originally published as Jahrome Hughes, Nick Meaney and Nelson Asofa-Solomona all hurt in Melbourne Storm’s win over Penrith