This was published 2 years ago
There is no better sight than Ryan Papenhuyzen in full flight and steaming through for a try.
Papenhuyzen did just that just before half-time at Belmore Sportsground on Thursday night as the Storm went down 24-12 to Canterbury in the season’s first official trial.
The Storm fullback who has had a nightmare run with injuries and concussions the past three years pounced on a Jonah Pezet kick from the scrum.
“It’s good I’m off the nudie run now,” Papenhuyzen said.
Canterbury win 24-12.
Michael Jackson is playing.
George Ezra’s Green Green Grass is still stuck in everyone’s heads.
One of the few men yet to have a spell, Bronson Xerri scored to put the Dogs further in the lead.
Returning from a four-year doping ban – and playing his first game in 1615 days – Xerri had no problems scoring as Canterbury spread it left.
He went close to scoring a few times in the first half as well.
Coach Cameron Ciraldo was happy to be guided by Xerri tonight in terms of how many minutes he wanted to punch out.
He is a genuine centre option for round one.
Canterbury lead 20-12.
Jeral Skelton has been a handful bringing the ball back, and now he has a try to put the Dogs back in front.
Canterbury have made a stack of changes, as expected, but Skelton and left centre Bronson Xerri remain on the park.
A lot of the kids and fringe players look like taking centre stage the rest of the night.
Ryan Papenhuyzen never returned, also as expected, after the break.
Blake Taaffe is a quality player who will start the year in the Canterbury No. 1 jersey.
He has been given a spell after a solid 45 minutes.
He rocked pink boots tonight, which for some reason gave the impression he was running extra fast.
He was safe at the back and forever popping up in support in attack like he always does.
By giving coach Cameron Ciraldo the confidence to keep Taaffe at the back, it allows Stephen Crichton to remain in the centres where he is most dangerous.
This is what we all came for. The final play before half-time featured some Ryan Papenhuyzen magic.
The Storm packed the scrum on the 30m line, Jonah Pezet put through a kick on the first play, and his fullback went charging through to beat everyone to score.
Go Paps.
Melbourne went to the break 12-10 up.
I remember the Storm playing against Canterbury in round one back in 2017 on what was a wild and wet night.
When I returned to the local primary school where the media had to park, my little Suzuki Sierra got bogged.
When NRMA came to bail me out, the poor bloke got bogged himself. He had to call for back-up to get his car out of trouble, then mine.
It was a 6pm kick-off, and I didn’t get home until after midnight.
Canterbury winger Blake Wilson will wake up on Friday morning wondering how on earth he scored this one.
The Dogs spread the ball right – where they always looked the most dangerous – Wilson picked the ball up, then somehow put on a step to beat Keagan Russell-Smith.
It was a really poor miss. Russell-Smith would have cringed watching the replay on the big screen.
The Dogs are back in front 10-6.
PS: The number of party pies consumed in the press box is nearing 15.
The Storm have hit back via Dean Ieremia. Ryan Papenhuyzen picks up the try assist.
A Jeral Skelton knock-on finally allowed Melbourne to go on the attack.
A few players earlier, Matt Burton sprinted 80m for a try, only for play to be called back for a Dogs error.
Make that 6-all.
Dogs centre Eli Clark picks up the first try of the night for the home side.
Big Poasa Faamausili charged on to the ball and almost had a four-pointer himself, but points were always going to be a formality the next play.
Matt Burton adds the extra. Canterbury lead 6-0 after five minutes.