Damage curse strikes once more for Papenhuyzen, Eels star fighting foot downside, Naden suffers main setback

Luckless star Melbourne fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen could not play till their grand-final rematch with Penrith in spherical three because the Storm put together to area an undermanned backline for his or her last NRL trial.

The Storm host North Queensland at Casey Fields in south-east Melbourne on Sunday afternoon as they fine-tune preparations for his or her round-one conflict with Parramatta at AAMI Park on March 9.

Coach Craig Bellamy will look to maintain his outstanding document alive of by no means having misplaced an opening-round match, with the stretch presently at 21 straight wins.

However Melbourne could need to do it with out Papenhuyzen, with Bellamy telling AAP the electrical No.1 is doubtful to face the Eels.

With the Storm set for a round-two bye, Papenhuyzen could possibly be placed on ice till they host premiers Penrith in spherical three.

“Paps might be most uncertain for spherical one,” Bellamy informed AAP on Saturday.

“It’s just a bit bit along with his ankle and his knee, he’s clearly had some unhealthy accidents.

“There’s nothing too critical however we’ll simply watch for issues to cool down and get a few weeks coaching below his belt.”

The 26-year-old was named on the bench for the Cowboys however will be part of halfback Jahrome Hughes (calf), and wingers Xavier Coates (ankle) and Will Warbrick (rested) on the sidelines, though the latter three are slated for spherical one.

Olympian Moses Leo, who joined the Storm from the New Zealand sevens facet, has additionally been hampered by a quad pressure.

“We expect Hughesy will probably be OK (for spherical one), we predict most of these guys (will) however we’ll see what occurs,” Bellamy mentioned.

“We’ll take care of them as a lot as we will and in the event that they don’t play spherical one so be it.

“We’ll give these guys an additional week in the event that they don’t come up spherical one.”

Melbourne’s largest low season signing, former Tiger Stefano Utoikamanu, is about for his second hit-out in Storm colors within the trial.

Ryan Papenhuyzen celebrates with teammates. (Photograph by Cameron Spencer/Getty Photos)

Bellamy mentioned he’d been impressed by the 24-year-old NSW Origin prop by means of the pre-season.

“He’s been actually good, he’s an actual good fella to start out with, which is what we prefer to make use of on the membership,” the veteran coach mentioned. “He’s labored actually laborious and for an enormous man, he’s fairly cell.” 

In the meantime, Parramatta are assured Mitch Moses will probably be match for spherical one regardless of the star halfback nonetheless requiring a number of scans on the sore foot he injured virtually a 12 months in the past.

With all eyes on fellow Eels half Dylan Brown and his future past this 12 months, Moses has been battling his personal points in his left foot.

Initially injured in opposition to Manly final March, Moses missed two months of soccer earlier than returning and struggling a season-ending bicep rupture in State of Origin.

The lingering ache in Moses’s foot is, nonetheless, nonetheless but to subside, prompting the Eels to depart him on ice for Friday evening’s 30-18 trial loss to Wests Tigers.

Coach Jason Ryles insisted afterwards had it been an NRL match Moses may have performed, with the 30-year-old aiming to be able to face Melbourne on March 9.

“Mitch had a little bit of soreness along with his foot across the screw,” Ryles mentioned.

“We’ve had each scan below the solar and he had a extremely good operating session immediately to construct him again up for spherical one.

Mitchell Moses. (Photograph by Cameron Spencer/Getty Photos)

“Due to the place we have been within the pre-season, we didn’t wish to push him by means of no matter he didn’t have to.

“However he’s all clear, he’s comfortable and he’s coaching – we count on him to play spherical one.”

Ryles mentioned the ache was probably all the way down to workloads by means of the pre-season.

“This 12 months he’s most likely achieved probably the most coaching he’s achieved for a very long time and that most likely caught up with him the previous few weeks,” the brand new Eels coach mentioned.

“If we’re taking part in NRL video games, we’re taking part in him. 

“It’s a matter of being good about it whereas we may be good about it.”

Brent Naden hopes to be again on the sphere inside eight weeks regardless of struggling a horrific knee damage within the Wests Tigers’ last trial.

Naden was left withering in ache after dislocating his left kneecap within the Tigers’ 30-18 win over Parramatta on Friday evening, following a clumsy sort out at Leichhardt Oval.

The Tigers centre was set to go for scans on Saturday, however the membership is  hopeful there’s no critical ligament harm and he can return inside two months.

That might come as a lift to the Tigers’ backline shares with Adam Doueihi determined for an injury-free 12 months and Justin Olam coping with fixed knee points.

“The fast analysis is that my knee has popped out. Hopefully no ligament (harm) so hopefully (I may be again in) six-to-eight weeks,” Naden mentioned afterwards.

“I’m most likely in additional ache now than I used to be on the sphere as a result of I had a lot adrenaline going by means of me. 

“However I knew it was unhealthy as a result of Jeral Skelton was strolling over and went ‘ahhhhh’ after which walked away. After I regarded up and noticed it, I used to be like ‘Jesus’.”