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an hour ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Don't think he'll be playing': Bellamy flags further absence for Cameron Munster
Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has hinted Cameron Munster won't be playing against the Roosters after the team's five-day turnaround as he prepares to attend his father's funeral in Queensland. Munster is still grieving the loss of his father Steven, who died just days before State of Origin Game 3. Munster left State of Origin camp ahead of the decider to be with his family, but returned for the captain's run in a stoic move for his side. And the newly appointed Queensland captain was instrumental in leading his team to a historic Game 3 win. After missing his side's round 19 clash, Munster returned to the side to play the Manly Sea Eagles on Saturday in Melbourne. Unfortunately for the Storm, Manly were too good winning after a divisive penalty against Harry Grant handed Reuben Garrick a penalty to win the game. Munster got through the game fine, but his availability for the round 20 clash this Thursday night has been thrown into doubt. Melbourne have a five-day turnaround before their game against the Roosters, with both teams looking to get back to winning ways on Thursday. The Roosters dropped out of the eight after a tough loss to the Cronulla Sharks, while Melbourne dropped to third. And Bellamy claimed Munster was unlikely to line-up for the Storm as he spends time with his family. The Daily Telegraph reported Munster would need to make a mad dash to attend the funeral if he played in Sydney against the Roosters. Steven's funeral is on Friday in Rockhampton, which would be the day after the Roosters game. The publication claimed Munster would need to get the first plane out of Sydney on Friday morning if he played on Thursday night, before changing in Brisbane to make a flight to Rockhampton. And after being asked about whether Munster would make the five-day turnaround, Bellamy suggested it was very unlikely. "I don't think he'll be been spoken about that much, but I don't think he will be playing on Thursday," he said. This means Tyran Wishart will most likely fill in for Munster in what is looming as an important game for both teams. Melbourne will most likely be without Nelson Asofa-Solomona as well after he was hit with a two-game ban for an elbow. It remains to be seen if he will fight the charge. Andrew Johns calls out NRL for kicker rule Bellamy was left frustrated after the 18-16 loss having claimed his team didn't live up to the expectations on old boys day. And one of the major talking points was the penalty by Grant. With Luke Brooks attempting a field goal with time running out, Grant rushed out to put pressure on the playmaker. Although he collided with the feet of Brooks with minimal contact. The NRL has made sure connection with the kickers legs have been penalties this year, and even though it was minimal, Manly sealed the game with a penalty right in front. RELATED: Latrell Mitchell moment says it all as Souths rocked by another injury Broncos sign 'next Benji Marshall' from rival NRL club's backyard However, the rule has not sat well with plenty of stars in the game. Johns feels the NRL has gone too far in protecting kickers and the game now favours playmakers. "It's gone way too far," Johns said on Channel Nine's Sunday Footy Show. "Say you defend a really good set, and you get the opposition they play the ball on their 30. In years gone by if it was a slow play-the-ball the kicker would have to be back 10 to 15 metres, which means you would get the ball and bring it back to your 40. "Nowadays if you get a bad attacking set and slow play-the-ball, the kicker stands on the advantage line and kicks it 60 metres because they know they can't get hit. They should be able to get out and tackle the kicker above the waist."
News.com.au
5 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Storm coach Craig Bellamy concedes there's no clear timeline on Ryan Papenhuyzen return
Melbourne Storm Craig Bellamy says there haven't been many 'better buys' than star winger Xavier Coates, with his 100th game milestone set to stir the team into action after the disappointment of an embarrassing failure in front of the club's former players last weekend. Bellamy was still stinging from last Saturday's loss to Manly on 'Old Boys' night given the importance he had put on significant club events during his 23 years at the helm. A five-day turnaround between the defeat and Thursday's clash with the Sydney Roosters demanded he 'move on' quickly after what would have been a piercing review. The coach conceded it would be tough, particularly having to travel, and without star playmaker Cameron Munster, electric fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen and enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona. But a response looms likely given the tone in Bellamy's voice on Wednesday that suggested his frustration with the effort against Manly would have reverberated through the playing group. 'That was disappointing for me,' he said of losing in front of the former players. 'Obviously, we don't like losing any game, we don't like losing at home, but to have all the old boys down and to actually perform like that ... getting beat in this competition is going to happen at times but just the way we started the game was really disappointing.' The loss, Storm's fifth of the season, made winning every game on the road to the finals crucial to lock up a top-four spot. But while Munster, who is missing the clash with the Roosters to attend his father's funeral, should be back as soon as next week to help the charge, Papenhuyzen's recovery from a calf injury is not as clear. He's now missed four games. 'When it first was happening it was only going to be a week, so I'm not quite sure,' Bellamy said. 'I don't understand injuries all that well. I haven't done any PhD or whatever it is, so we just need to get on with what we've got.' They don't have Asofa-Solomona, who was suspended for an errant elbow that also cost Storm a penalty last week. Asked on Wednesday whether there was a 'fine balance' between using the big man's aggression and curbing his outbursts, Bellamy gave a terse response. 'Yeah, it seems to be a fine balance,' he said, without expanding. Coates will be flying down the wing in his 100th game for the Storm since crossing from the Brisbane Broncos and thriving. The coach was full of praise for the State of Origin star. 'What he's put in form wise and what he's added to the club, not only on the field but off the field, there hasn't been too many better buys than Xavier,' Bellamy said. 'What he's done here has been exceptional and really proud of him and really proud he plays his 100th game here and hopefully he'll play a lot more milestones here.'
News.com.au
a day ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Round 21 team lists: Storm to be without three key stars for Roosters clash as rep stars return this weekend
Melbourne Storm will be without three of their biggest stars for Thursday's game against the Roosters with Cameron Munster headed to Queensland for his father's funeral ruling out a dash to Sydney for the clash. Ryan Papenhuyzen remains sidelined with a calf injury while Nelson Asofa-Solomona will miss through suspension. The Papenhuyzen injury is a major concern with the club hopeful he'll be back in round 22, with Nick Meaney to remain at fullback with Tyran Wishart to replace Munster at five-eighth. 'He's getting close, but not close enough,' Storm general manager of football Frank Ponissi said. 'Medical staff would like to see him do a little bit more running and they just think Thursday is a bit short. It was touch and go whether he'd play this Thursday, but the nature of the soft tissue injury and the chance of re-injuring it was a factor.' They face a Roosters side that has also made some key changes with Sandon Smith recalled at five-eighth to replace Chad Townsend, although Hugo Savala is lurking in the reserves and could make an early return from injury. Victor Radley will miss the match with a shoulder injury and has been replaced by Siua Wong, while Ethan King starts at centre in place of Billy Smith (concussion protocols). There's mixed news at the Eels with superstar halfback Mitch Moses cleared to return from the calf injury that ended his Origin campaign, but they've lost rookie sensation Isaiah Iongi for a month with a hand injury. Joash Papalii starts at fullback for the trip to Brisbane to face a Broncos side that gets Payne Haas, Jesse Arthars and Corey Jensen back. There's a potential triple boost for the Panthers who welcome back the rested Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo for their game against the Tigers, while Liam Martin has been named in the reserves and could return from a wrist injury. The injury-hit Rabbitohs have had a rare win with livewire fullback Jye Gray cleared to return, but they've lost Keaon Koloamatangi (ankle) for the season and will be without Jamie Humphreys and Peter Mamouzelos to head knocks. Englishman Lewis Dodd looks set to start at halfback against the Sharks who get Jesse Ramien back but have lost Briton Nikora after he failed an HIA last week. Strike centre Seb Kris (concussion) will miss Canberra's game against the Knights, with Simi Sasagi to start, while the Bulldogs get Bronson Xerri back after he missed a week with a groin issue. The Sea Eagles have received a huge boost following their shock win over the Storm with boom back-rower Haumole Olakau'atu to return from a shoulder injury that has kept him out for more than a month. The Titans have lost skipper Tino Fa'asuamaleaui to a knee injury, while David Fifita hasn't been named in the squad for the trip to take on the Warriors who get Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad back from a knee issue. And the Cowboys have made another change in the halves with Tom Duffy to play five-eighth, while Robert Derby replaces the injured Murray Taulagi on the wing.
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
NRL Highlights: Storm v Sea Eagles
Melbourne Storm take on the Manly Sea Eagles in Round 20 of the 2025 NRL Premiership at AAMI Park, Melbourne. Loading
The Age
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
NRL Highlights: Storm v Sea Eagles
Melbourne Storm take on the Manly Sea Eagles in Round 20 of the 2025 NRL Premiership at AAMI Park, Melbourne. Loading
