‘Massive toll': Munster still reeling, Paps to miss
Storm officials have given Munster as much time as he needs away form the club after the shock passing of his father, Steven, just days before Queensland's triumph in last Wednesday's State of Origin decider.
Papenhuyzen, who has missed the past two Storm games with a calf injury he'll test again this week but doesn't suspect will be good enough to allow him to tackle the Sea Eagles, said Munster was in 'good spirits' but not expected back at the club until he's ready.
Munster was named in Storm's side but a determination on whether he plays is set to be made later in the week.
'The club's been really good to give him some time off and obviously the emotional rollercoaster of Origin let alone the passing of Steve,' he said. Cameron Munster is still mourning the passing of his father. Photo: NRL Photos Credit: Supplied
'It's a massive toll to come from back from and the club's been really good and giving him time and giving him space. We haven't seen him in yet, he's replied to all our messages though and he's in good spirits.
'But yeah it's a grieving process you need to let people go through and I'm sure the funeral's coming up in the next week or so and the club will just give him time I think until he's ready to come back.'
Papenhuyzen said he was playing the long game with his injury which was on the minor end compared to some of the major issues he's had in recent seasons.
But pushing it could lead to further setback and he'd rather be up and firing for the finals than risk doing any further damage, so couldn't say when he'd play again.
'It feels like it's improving. It's more just I can't really tell unless I'm running and we sort of shut it down the last few days so I can't really give an indicator of where it's at,' he said.
'The little ones are probably more annoying in a sense because you can see the finish line right there and you want to push, but I guess you have a bigger goal at the end of the year and we don't have any more byes, so I'm going to be smarter on that.
'But yeah, it is a little bit annoying because you sort of feel a week or two away, but then the next week it keeps getting pushed back and back and back.
'They are weird ones and a bit difficult to deal with but trust in the performance staff and we're in a good position where we can probably have a week or two off and the boys are performing really well, so yeah not panic stations yet.'
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Sydney Morning Herald
7 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
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The Age
7 hours ago
- The Age
Let them go – Samoa defectors might just save international footy
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7NEWS
14 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Payne Haas limps off as Broncos stun Eels in massive NRL boilover
Parramatta have put a spear in Brisbane's top-four hopes in a stunning 22-20 win inspired by skipper Mitchell Moses. To make matters worse for the Broncos their star prop Payne Haas was seen limping badly at the end of the match at Suncorp Stadium. Moses was on fire in his return from injury with winger Zac Lomax his powerhouse self with two cracking tries. The clash had a drama-charged finish when Brisbane fullback Reece Walsh was off-side when collecting a Gehamat Shibasaki grubber with 48 seconds left on the clock. Parramatta fullback Joash Papalii was a sensation at No.1 and was a relieved man when Walsh was denied after he knocked-on for his opposite number to swoop. The Broncos, at full strength and on the back of five wins in a row, were error-riddled in the second half with Walsh the worst offender in a rocks and diamonds display. The home side led 14-12 at halftime against an Eels side that were more than up for the fight. Both halfbacks, at the elite end of the spectrum most weeks, were highly influential. Moses, back from a calf injury sustained in NSW camp in the lead-up to game two of the State of Origin series, was superb with his long and short kicking game to set up two tries. Broncos counterpart Reynolds was also on song with a runaway intercept try and crafty inside pass for Kobe Hetherington to race away. Moses was at it again after the break with a lovely out ball to Will Penisini to send Lomax over for his second after a loose pass by Walsh gifted possession. Walsh took several poor options in attack before on the last tackle he put on a superb step on the 40m line and found bench specialist Billy Walters in support to give Brisbane a 20-18 lead. Addo-Carr would not be denied and streaked over for his 150th career try to grab the lead The hosts left Haas on the bench for 30 minutes in the middle of the match as he battled a lingering lower back complaint, but he came back on for the final stint before suffering another possible injury. The first half was full of quality and competitive footy. Brisbane forward Xavier Willison was put on report for a cannonball tackle on Eels prop Junior Paulo early and the visitors got into a grind with determination. Walsh made the cardinal error of letting a Moses mid-field bomb bounce. Parramatta centre Sean Russell gathered, chipped over Walsh's head and scored a cracker. Reynolds then swooped on a Dean Hawkins pass to race 75m to score. The captain orchestrated the next try for Hetherington but the visitors were plucky. The quality of the Eels attack has improved markedly over the season and Moses, with a set play, lobbed a perfect kick for aerial specialist Lomax to dive, catch and score.
