BREAKING NEWS: Melbourne Storm set to welcome back Cameron Munster.
The Melbourne Storm are facing a number of untimely injuries to key players.
The Storm have ascended the ladder and are seated at the top, even as the injuries continue to mount. Since he led the team around the field in Munster’s absence throughout the half, Jarhome Hughes has emerged as the competition’s best halfback.
Despite all of their ailments, Storm supporters can rejoice since Munster plans to play the Dragons in round 22. Munster’s arrival to the Storm in 2024 would be greatly advantageous, as the Maroons and Kangaroos star’s season was cut short due to a groin injury.
This season, the 29-year-old has made seven appearances for the Storm, winning six of them. In seven games, he has six line breaks and eight try assists. By the time Munster returns to club football, the Maroons will, regrettably, have missed the State of Origin series. After suffering a heartbreaking 38–18 loss in Game 2, the Maroons will play the Blues in a decider at home.
The club will benefit from Munster’s comeback, as Papenhuyzen is also scheduled to play this week. Seven weeks after suffering another injury to his right leg, Papenhuyzen made his comeback to the field in round 16. The Storm No. 1 came back for a try, but a heel injury kept him out of our round 17.
Fans were concerned that the 26-year-old would miss a few more Storm games given the problems plaguing their backline. With Papenhuyzen scheduled to make his comeback against the Tigers on Saturday, it doesn’t seem like a catastrophic injury. With Meaney scheduled to return following the break, the Storm are lucky to get a bye in round 19.
Grant, meanwhile, will miss a further week of NRL play after taking a lengthy break following a rough Origin match. After taking a hard hit to the head during Origin, Grant was sidelined for Melbourne’s victory over the Raiders at AAMI Park.
Bellamy decided to give Grant another week off this weekend against the Tigers because of the bruising he’s been dealing with for the past several weeks. This week, the Storm takes on the Tigers before having a bye week. In round 20, the Storm will play the Roosters, who could be a title challenger. After Origin Game 3, Bellamy will have to make a crucial choice over whether to rest his talents.
Despite being one of the few Origin players to support their team last weekend, Coates had a difficult night due to a hamstring injury. The winger has been sidelined for several weeks and will not play for the Maroons in Origin Game 3.
Coates might be out for six to eight weeks, meaning he wouldn’t be back until the very end of the season. In his place, Kane Bradley is expected to play on the wing.
