Latest news with #Pezet


The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Papenhuyzen scratching adds to Storm's backline issues
Ryan Papenhuyzen will miss Melbourne's clash with North Queensland in the latest blow to the Storm's crisis-hit backline. Papenhuyzen was on Friday night ruled out of the Townsville match with calf tightness, making him the seventh Melbourne back unavailable for the game. His absence means Tyran Wishart will move to fullback, with Jonah Pezet now starting in the halves. The Storm are already without Will Warbrick (concussion), Moses Leo (shoulder), Sua Fa'alogo (hamstring), Jack Howarth (appendicitis), Xavier Coates (Origin) and Dean Ieremia (achilles) in their backline alone. Coach Craig Bellamy said he was not expecting miracles from an understrength side, but luckless Pezet could be forgiven for thinking his NRL comeback is one. Melbourne and North Queensland will be without a combined total of nine State of Origin representatives for Saturday's clash, the most for any game this weekend. The Storm had already been forced to name Joe Chan in the centres for the first time in his NRL career. Elsewhere, Penrith junior Ativalu Lisati has been named for only his third game, while journeyman winger Kane Bradley comes in for his second game of the year. "You don't expect miracles from them," Bellamy said of the reinforcements. "But they've been training with us all year, we haven't got anyone in over the last few weeks. "It (the Origin period) is always tough but it's tough for a lot of teams." But there is a silver lining in the NRL comeback of Pezet, who had been earmarked as Melbourne's next halfback before enduring more than a year of knee injury hell. The playmaker was last seen in the NRL in round three last year, rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament playing reserve grade a month later. Some 336 days on in March, Gosford-born Pezet returned to the field for feeder side North Sydney, only to injure the same knee and book in for more surgery. But Pezet has since made it through two games of NSW Cup and, while he was listed on the bench, will now start on Saturday night. "There's some guys that are going to get a chance tomorrow, a chance to impress and a chance to play a bit of first grade," Bellamy said. "Hopefully they'll grab that with both hands." The Cowboys will need to forge on without Murray Taulagi, who has failed to pull up from a minor knee injury suffered in last week's win over Gold Coast. Braidon Burns will replace Taulagi on the wing but the club expects to have the former Maroons utility back on deck for next week's clash with Canterbury. "We named him this week in the thought he might improve but he tried to get some running done on Thursday and was no good," said North Queensland coach Todd Payten. Ryan Papenhuyzen will miss Melbourne's clash with North Queensland in the latest blow to the Storm's crisis-hit backline. Papenhuyzen was on Friday night ruled out of the Townsville match with calf tightness, making him the seventh Melbourne back unavailable for the game. His absence means Tyran Wishart will move to fullback, with Jonah Pezet now starting in the halves. The Storm are already without Will Warbrick (concussion), Moses Leo (shoulder), Sua Fa'alogo (hamstring), Jack Howarth (appendicitis), Xavier Coates (Origin) and Dean Ieremia (achilles) in their backline alone. Coach Craig Bellamy said he was not expecting miracles from an understrength side, but luckless Pezet could be forgiven for thinking his NRL comeback is one. Melbourne and North Queensland will be without a combined total of nine State of Origin representatives for Saturday's clash, the most for any game this weekend. The Storm had already been forced to name Joe Chan in the centres for the first time in his NRL career. Elsewhere, Penrith junior Ativalu Lisati has been named for only his third game, while journeyman winger Kane Bradley comes in for his second game of the year. "You don't expect miracles from them," Bellamy said of the reinforcements. "But they've been training with us all year, we haven't got anyone in over the last few weeks. "It (the Origin period) is always tough but it's tough for a lot of teams." But there is a silver lining in the NRL comeback of Pezet, who had been earmarked as Melbourne's next halfback before enduring more than a year of knee injury hell. The playmaker was last seen in the NRL in round three last year, rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament playing reserve grade a month later. Some 336 days on in March, Gosford-born Pezet returned to the field for feeder side North Sydney, only to injure the same knee and book in for more surgery. But Pezet has since made it through two games of NSW Cup and, while he was listed on the bench, will now start on Saturday night. "There's some guys that are going to get a chance tomorrow, a chance to impress and a chance to play a bit of first grade," Bellamy said. "Hopefully they'll grab that with both hands." The Cowboys will need to forge on without Murray Taulagi, who has failed to pull up from a minor knee injury suffered in last week's win over Gold Coast. Braidon Burns will replace Taulagi on the wing but the club expects to have the former Maroons utility back on deck for next week's clash with Canterbury. "We named him this week in the thought he might improve but he tried to get some running done on Thursday and was no good," said North Queensland coach Todd Payten. Ryan Papenhuyzen will miss Melbourne's clash with North Queensland in the latest blow to the Storm's crisis-hit backline. Papenhuyzen was on Friday night ruled out of the Townsville match with calf tightness, making him the seventh Melbourne back unavailable for the game. His absence means Tyran Wishart will move to fullback, with Jonah Pezet now starting in the halves. The Storm are already without Will Warbrick (concussion), Moses Leo (shoulder), Sua Fa'alogo (hamstring), Jack Howarth (appendicitis), Xavier Coates (Origin) and Dean Ieremia (achilles) in their backline alone. Coach Craig Bellamy said he was not expecting miracles from an understrength side, but luckless Pezet could be forgiven for thinking his NRL comeback is one. Melbourne and North Queensland will be without a combined total of nine State of Origin representatives for Saturday's clash, the most for any game this weekend. The Storm had already been forced to name Joe Chan in the centres for the first time in his NRL career. Elsewhere, Penrith junior Ativalu Lisati has been named for only his third game, while journeyman winger Kane Bradley comes in for his second game of the year. "You don't expect miracles from them," Bellamy said of the reinforcements. "But they've been training with us all year, we haven't got anyone in over the last few weeks. "It (the Origin period) is always tough but it's tough for a lot of teams." But there is a silver lining in the NRL comeback of Pezet, who had been earmarked as Melbourne's next halfback before enduring more than a year of knee injury hell. The playmaker was last seen in the NRL in round three last year, rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament playing reserve grade a month later. Some 336 days on in March, Gosford-born Pezet returned to the field for feeder side North Sydney, only to injure the same knee and book in for more surgery. But Pezet has since made it through two games of NSW Cup and, while he was listed on the bench, will now start on Saturday night. "There's some guys that are going to get a chance tomorrow, a chance to impress and a chance to play a bit of first grade," Bellamy said. "Hopefully they'll grab that with both hands." The Cowboys will need to forge on without Murray Taulagi, who has failed to pull up from a minor knee injury suffered in last week's win over Gold Coast. Braidon Burns will replace Taulagi on the wing but the club expects to have the former Maroons utility back on deck for next week's clash with Canterbury. "We named him this week in the thought he might improve but he tried to get some running done on Thursday and was no good," said North Queensland coach Todd Payten.


The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Bellamy 'won't expect miracles' from weakened Storm
Craig Bellamy is not expecting miracles from an understrength Melbourne, but luckless Jonah Pezet could be forgiven for thinking his NRL comeback is one. The Storm and North Queensland will be without a combined total of nine State of Origin representatives for Saturday's clash, the most for any game this weekend. Covering for the absences and injuries in the outside backs, Melbourne have been forced to name Joe Chan to play centre for the first time in his NRL career. Elsewhere, Penrith junior Ativalu Lisati has been named for only his third game, while journeyman winger Kane Bradley comes in for his second game of the year. "You don't expect miracles from them," Bellamy said of the reinforcements. "But they've been training with us all year, we haven't got anyone in over the last few weeks. "It (the Origin period) is always tough but it's tough for a lot of teams." But there is a silver lining in the NRL comeback of Pezet, who had been earmarked as the Storm's next halfback before enduring more than a year of knee injury hell. The playmaker was last seen in the NRL in round three last year, rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament playing reserve grade a month later. Some 336 days later in March, Gosford-born Pezet returned to the field for feeder side North Sydney, only to injure the same knee and book in for more surgery. But Pezet has since made it through two games of NSW Cup and will start on Bellamy's bench after making it through captain's run in Townsville. "There's some guys that are going to get a chance tomorrow, a chance to impress and a chance to play a bit of first grade," Bellamy said. "Hopefully they'll grab that with both hands." The Cowboys will need to forge on without Murray Taulagi, who has failed to pull up from a minor knee injury suffered in last week's win over Gold Coast. Braidon Burns will replace Taulagi on the wing but the club expects to have the former Queensland representative back for next week's clash with Canterbury. "We named him this week in the thought he might improve but he tried to get some running done on Thursday and was no good," said North Queensland coach Todd Payten. Craig Bellamy is not expecting miracles from an understrength Melbourne, but luckless Jonah Pezet could be forgiven for thinking his NRL comeback is one. The Storm and North Queensland will be without a combined total of nine State of Origin representatives for Saturday's clash, the most for any game this weekend. Covering for the absences and injuries in the outside backs, Melbourne have been forced to name Joe Chan to play centre for the first time in his NRL career. Elsewhere, Penrith junior Ativalu Lisati has been named for only his third game, while journeyman winger Kane Bradley comes in for his second game of the year. "You don't expect miracles from them," Bellamy said of the reinforcements. "But they've been training with us all year, we haven't got anyone in over the last few weeks. "It (the Origin period) is always tough but it's tough for a lot of teams." But there is a silver lining in the NRL comeback of Pezet, who had been earmarked as the Storm's next halfback before enduring more than a year of knee injury hell. The playmaker was last seen in the NRL in round three last year, rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament playing reserve grade a month later. Some 336 days later in March, Gosford-born Pezet returned to the field for feeder side North Sydney, only to injure the same knee and book in for more surgery. But Pezet has since made it through two games of NSW Cup and will start on Bellamy's bench after making it through captain's run in Townsville. "There's some guys that are going to get a chance tomorrow, a chance to impress and a chance to play a bit of first grade," Bellamy said. "Hopefully they'll grab that with both hands." The Cowboys will need to forge on without Murray Taulagi, who has failed to pull up from a minor knee injury suffered in last week's win over Gold Coast. Braidon Burns will replace Taulagi on the wing but the club expects to have the former Queensland representative back for next week's clash with Canterbury. "We named him this week in the thought he might improve but he tried to get some running done on Thursday and was no good," said North Queensland coach Todd Payten. Craig Bellamy is not expecting miracles from an understrength Melbourne, but luckless Jonah Pezet could be forgiven for thinking his NRL comeback is one. The Storm and North Queensland will be without a combined total of nine State of Origin representatives for Saturday's clash, the most for any game this weekend. Covering for the absences and injuries in the outside backs, Melbourne have been forced to name Joe Chan to play centre for the first time in his NRL career. Elsewhere, Penrith junior Ativalu Lisati has been named for only his third game, while journeyman winger Kane Bradley comes in for his second game of the year. "You don't expect miracles from them," Bellamy said of the reinforcements. "But they've been training with us all year, we haven't got anyone in over the last few weeks. "It (the Origin period) is always tough but it's tough for a lot of teams." But there is a silver lining in the NRL comeback of Pezet, who had been earmarked as the Storm's next halfback before enduring more than a year of knee injury hell. The playmaker was last seen in the NRL in round three last year, rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament playing reserve grade a month later. Some 336 days later in March, Gosford-born Pezet returned to the field for feeder side North Sydney, only to injure the same knee and book in for more surgery. But Pezet has since made it through two games of NSW Cup and will start on Bellamy's bench after making it through captain's run in Townsville. "There's some guys that are going to get a chance tomorrow, a chance to impress and a chance to play a bit of first grade," Bellamy said. "Hopefully they'll grab that with both hands." The Cowboys will need to forge on without Murray Taulagi, who has failed to pull up from a minor knee injury suffered in last week's win over Gold Coast. Braidon Burns will replace Taulagi on the wing but the club expects to have the former Queensland representative back for next week's clash with Canterbury. "We named him this week in the thought he might improve but he tried to get some running done on Thursday and was no good," said North Queensland coach Todd Payten.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Storm confident on Hughes as Pezet suffers fresh blow
Jahrome Hughes will be given until the last minute to prove his fitness for Melbourne as the Dally M Medal winner eyes a rapid recovery from a fractured hand. Hughes has been named in the Storm's extended squad for Sunday's round-five trip to face Manly after missing last week's shock loss to St George Illawarra. The New Zealand international only sustained the injury in the Storm's narrow round-three win over Penrith, but will potentially be available to take on the Sea Eagles. "Jahrome has progressed quickly from his hand injury," football boss Frank Ponissi told the Storm's website. "Our medical staff came to us earlier this week and reported that he might be available for Sunday. "There's still some work to do before that becomes reality. "Jahrome will need to train with the squad over the next two days and then a selection decision will be made on Saturday morning." The potential return of the New Zealand international is offset by news rising Storm playmaker Jonah Pezet has suffered a fresh knee injury. Pezet, 22, is seen as a long-term playmaker for the Storm but missed most of last year with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The luckless halfback will undergo stabilising surgery after failing to finish Saturday's NSW Cup for Storm feeder club North Sydney. Pezet will miss up to three months of action. "Jonah played 40 minutes for the Bears and did really well in his first game back in nearly a year," Ponissi said. "I want to give Jonah a massive wrap for the manner in which he has managed this latest setback. "He's remained positive throughout and will work hard to get himself back playing."