NRL Late Mail round 4: Campbell Graham to miss a month, Ryan Papenhuyzen doubts

Luckless South Sydney star Campbell Graham is set for another stint on the sidelines, while the Storm are sweating on star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen.

Luckless South Sydney star Campbell Graham is set for another stint on the sidelines after being ruled out of Thursday’s clash against Penrith with a calf injury.

Coach Wayne Bennett confirmed on Wednesday morning that Graham could be out for at least a month after suffering a calf injury in last week’s loss to Cronulla.

“He’s probably (out) for about a month,” Bennett confirmed.

“It’s frustrating, yeah it is. He felt it about 20 minutes into the game.

“But it didn’t restrict him. But after the game he was pretty tender with it. So it will be about a month.”

Isaiah Tass, who started the season on the wing, has been named at centre against the Panthers.

Graham had only just returned from a sternum injury that robbed him of taking the field last season.

He also suffered a broken hand late in the preseason ahead of Round 1.

But in a boost for Bennett’s Rabbitohs, superstar fullback Latrell Mitchell is set to play his first game this season against fierce rivals Sydney Roosters next weekend.

“He’s on track to be there next week,” Bennett said on Wednesday.

Campbell Graham will miss a month with a calf injury. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

STORM SWEAT ON PAPENHUYZEN

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy is sweating on the fitness of star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen ahead of Saturday’s clash against St George Illawarra at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium in Sydney.

Bellamy has already copped a huge blow to his star-studded spine in the wake of Melbourne’s win over premiers Penrith with halfback Jahrome Hughes suffering a broken hand in the grand final rematch.

But the injury carnage out of the Round 3 victory might not be over for Bellamy and the Storm, with the club’s depth to be tested in the coming weeks.

Bellamy has named Papenhuyzen in the No. 1 jumper despite the fullback’s ankle soreness.

But this masthead understands Papenhuyzen will have to get through Wednesday’s field session unscathed before receiving the all clear to line-up against the Red V.

Bellamy is hopeful Papenhuyzen will get the green light but the coach could be tempted to take the cautious approach with the fullback given the 26-year-old’s torrid run with injury in recent years, and the fact it is still only Round 4.

Bellamy revealed last Thursday night that while Papenhuyzen played the full 80 minutes, he actually finished the Panthers clash at AAMI Park with an ankle complaint.

“Paps has got a bit of a crook ankle,” Bellamy revealed in the post match press conference.

Livewire rookie fullback Sua Faalogo – who has been named on the extended bench – is the frontrunner to fill in for Papenhuyzen if the No. 1 is eventually ruled out.

Ryan Papenhuyzen is fighting an ankle issue. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Barnstorming winger Will Warbrick was named on the wing this week after missing the victory over the Panthers due to a head knock.

Like Papenhuyzen, Warbrick will be assessed during Wednesday’s training session before a final call is made.

Super sub Tyran Wishart has been named to deputise in the No. 7, with Hughes set to miss at least two weeks after having hand surgery immediately after the Panthers clash.

Grant Anderson will also be monitored during the week and be given until Captain’s Run on Friday to prove his fitness after the outside back was cleared of a serious knee injury, also suffered against the Panthers.

Anderson, who started on the wing last week, has been named to replace reliable centre Nick Meaney.

Meaney is expected to miss the next four to six weeks after going under the knife to repair a fractured cheekbone suffered in a head clash with teammate Nelson Asofa-Solomona.

Asofa-Solomona failed a head injury assessment after the Panthers clash and will miss the Dragons clash under the NRL’s concussion protocols.

The elevation of Wishart into the starting side will see Bronson Garlick wear the No. 14 jumper, while rookie prop Lazarus Vaalepu has been named on the bench as Asofa-Solomona’s replacement.

KINI FACES LONG ABSENCE

Keano Kini could face an extended stint on the sidelines with the Titans fullback sensation sent to a specialist for treatment on a potentially serious neck injury.

Gold Coast’s reigning Paul Broughton Medallist is in limbo with a neck problem ruling him out of Friday night’s clash against the Roosters at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium.

It is understood Kini has undergone scans on the injury, with a neck specialist to determine whether the 20-year-old will require surgery.

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Originally published as NRL Late Mail round 4: Campbell Graham to miss a month, Ryan Papenhuyzen doubts