Injured Storm star may miss Eels’ NRL season opener

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Injured Storm star may miss Eels’ NRL season opener

Luckless star Melbourne fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen may not play until their grand-final rematch with Penrith in round three as the Storm prepare to field an undermanned backline for their final NRL trial.

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

Coach Craig Bellamy will look to keep his remarkable record alive of never having lost an opening-round match, with the stretch currently at 21 straight wins.

But Melbourne may have to do it without Papenhuyzen, with Bellamy telling AAP the electric No.1 is in doubt to face the Eels.

With the Storm set for a round-two bye, Papenhuyzen could be put on ice until they host premiers Penrith in round three.

“Paps is probably most doubtful for round one,” Bellamy told AAP on Saturday.

“It’s just a little bit with his ankle and his knee, he’s obviously had some bad injuries.

“There’s nothing too serious but we’ll just wait for things to settle down and get a couple of weeks training under his belt.”

The 26-year-old was named on the bench for the Cowboys but will join halfback Jahrome Hughes (calf), and wingers Xavier Coates (ankle) and Will Warbrick (rested) on the sidelines, although the latter three are slated for round one.

Olympian Moses Leo, who joined the Storm from the New Zealand sevens side, has also been hampered by a quad strain.

“We think Hughesy will be OK (for round one), we think most of those guys (will) but we’ll see what happens,” Bellamy said.

“We’ll look after them as much as we can and if they don’t play round one so be it.

“We’ll give those guys an extra week if they don’t come up round one.”

Melbourne’s biggest off-season signing, former Tiger Stefano Utoikamanu, is set for his second hit-out in Storm colours in the trial.

Bellamy said he’d been impressed by the 24-year-old NSW Origin prop through the pre-season.

“He’s been really good, he’s a real good fella to start with, which is what we like to employ at the club,” the veteran coach said.

“He’s worked really hard and for a big guy, he’s quite mobile.

“He’s just sort of getting a little bit used to the things that we do and the things that we see as important.

“But like I say, he’s put plenty of effort in and we’re real happy with the way he’s going.”

Long-time Melbourne prop Christian Welch announced his medical retirement last week due a chronic back injury and Bellamy said he hoped they could bring another forward to the club.

“It’s a pretty complicated episode, I suppose, with the (salary) cap and with Christian, and how he’s retired.

“I don’t think we’ve got that answer from the NRL yet and I don’t know when we will get an answer, but yeah we’d like to get someone else in, obviously.”

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