Melbourne Storm has confirmed its 22-man squad to face the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Thursday night.
Eliesa Katoa will miss the clash due to injury, with Trent Loiero shifting to the edge and Nelson Asofa-Solomona named to start at lock.
In some positive injury news, Tui Kamikamica makes his return to the starting side after missing last week through injury.
Melbourne Storm
Craig Bellamy has sung the praises of Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen as the club looks to extend his contract. The 25-year-old premiership winner has scored 53 tries in 78 games for the Storm since his debut in 2019 but has only played 21 games over the last three seasons due to injury.
His injury-riddled last few seasons led to speculation that the club may look to cut their losses amid the emergence of young gun Sua Fa’alogo during the Pacific Championships in the NRL off-season. The Sydney Morning Herald reported last October that a third party acting on behalf of the Storm had approached a rival club to gauge their interest in Papenhuyzen. It was claimed that after upgrading Fa’alogo’s contract and moving him into the club’s top 30 for the 2024 season, the club was considering letting Papenhuyzen go.
We see him as a key part of our future, and we will begin those talks within the next couple of weeks.” The news comes as Bellamy heaped praise on the Storm No.1 after another strong showing in Melbourne’s 18-12 win over the Roosters on Thursday night, which elevated Bellamy’s side to the top of the table.
“He has obviously had a lot of bad luck over the last couple of years and it is good to have him back,” Bellamy said in his press conference. “Harry Grant will probably tell you he is a real thinker about the game. He’s a wonderful leader and I’d imagine out on the field he would do a lot of talking.
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