Update on Papenhuyzen’s injuries
Melbourne Storm star player, Ryan Papenhuyzen, has this morning undergone surgery on a fractured right ankle suffered in Friday night’s loss to the Brisbane Broncos.
Storm General Manager Football, Frank Ponissi, said it was huge loss for the side, but Papenhuyzen was maintaining a positive outlook.
“We’re obviously devastated for Ryan suffering another setback after spending a significant time away from the game after injuring his knee last year,” Ponissi said.
“He’s worked extremely hard to get back to the NRL over that time and left no stone unturned in his recovery.
“We know that he is the ultimate professional on and off the field and this is just another challenge that he will take on with both hands.
“His surgery went well this morning and, at this stage, we expect him to be back training in the new year but for now we’re focused on ensuring he is getting the right care.”
Ponissi said Xavier Coates will have scans later this afternoon on his injured ankle after returning to Melbourne with the team.
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Melbourne Storm are confident as Ryan Papenhuyzen has surgery following his brief NRL return.
Melbourne star Ryan Papenhuyzen has undergone surgery on a fractured right ankle, with the NRL club hopeful he will return to training in new year.
A distraught Papenhuyzen was carted off Lang Park in agony with seven minutes to play in the Storm’s 26-0 qualifying final defeat to Brisbane on Friday night.
He was sent straight to hospital after the match.
Papenhuyzen was playing just his third NRL match since returning from a horrific injury in which he shattered his kneecap into 10 pieces in July of last year.
Late on Friday night, Papenhuyzen – from his hospital bed — posted a photo to Instagram giving the thumbs up with the caption: “We go again. Love ya”.
Storm general manager of football Frank Ponissi confirmed on Saturday the injury was not a compound fracture.
We’re obviously devastated for Ryan suffering another setback after spending a significant time away from the game after injuring his knee last year,” Ponissi said in a statement.
“He’s worked extremely hard to get back to the NRL over that time and left no stone unturned in his recovery.
“We know that he is the ultimate professional on and off the field and this is just another challenge that he will take on with both hands.
“His surgery went well this morning and, at this stage, we expect him to be back training in the new year but for now we’re focused on ensuring he is getting the right care.”
After the match, Storm coach Craig Bellamy said he could not imagine how Papenhuyzen was feeling.
“The amount of work he put in to get back to playing again, then get back into the NRL too,” Bellamy said.
“It wasn’t a great night anyway, and it made it a lot worse.”
Papenhuyzen was just starting to get his groove back when disaster struck.
He was making a tackle when his leg got caught awkwardly under teammate Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
Play stopped for minutes as he was carefully placed on the medicab and taken off the field.
Ponissi said Xavier Coates would have scans on Saturday afternoon on his injured ankle after returning to Melbourne with the squad.
The Storm will now face either the Sydney Roosters and Cronulla in a knockout semifinal next weekend.
