The 40 minutes that should worry Storm’s opponents for the title; axed Eels’ significant reaction: Wrap Up Reserves
Superstar Ryan Papenhuyzen of the Melbourne Storm made his eagerly anticipated comeback from a knee injury, and hookers Jake Turpin and Tom Starling responded to being benched.
After a seven-week sojourn in the NRL, Daejarn Asi returned to the New South Wales Cup beaming with confidence. Brendan Hands joined him in the reserve grade, while rising prop Ky Rodwell had one of his best games of the season.
After years of struggling to secure his place in the grade, a 26-year-old Queensland Cup competitor had a game to remember as the top-seeded Bears made a statement. Three North Sydney players also scored doubles.
Ryan Papenhuyzen was the player whose injury comeback was most awaited.The top player has been rehabilitating from a damaged kneecap for the past year.
Papenhuyzen only appeared in the first half for Sunshine Coast Falcons, the Storm feeder team, following 384 days on the sidelines. In the 24-10 victory over Ipswich, he finished with 46 running metres, a try assist, a linebreak assist, and two successful conversions out of three tries.
Above all, though, he survived the 40 minutes without incident.
Papenhuyzen was being cheered on by storm skipper Christian Welch, Harry Grant, and Nelson Asofa-Solomona, who were present in the crowd.
The 25-year-old is anticipated to play for the Falcons once again the following week, with the goal of playing the entire 80 minutes.
Justin Olam, a fellow Storm standout, was also available for the Falcons. In the end, he recorded 142 running meters, three tackle busts, a linebreak, and nine tackles, including his signature bone-cruncher, although he also missed four. But Olam departed the field in the last two minutes, appearing to have an injury to his arm.
Tom Starling, a raiders hooker, participated in his first NSW Cup match of the year following his release from Ricky Stuart’s NRL team. Playing the entire 80 minutes, the 25-year-old finished with 91 rushing metres, four tackle busts, and a game-high 43 tackles without a miss.
Jake Turpin of the Roosters also returned to the NSW Cup and had a great game in the North Sydney Bears’ decisive victory, contributing to 133 running meters, two linebreak assists, a try assist, and 22 tackles with one miss.
The Rabbitohs will need to cover some injuries to their pack because Jai Arrow has a back ailment and Tom Burgess is out due to suspension.The next two players in line are Shaquai Mitchell and Daniel Suluka-Fifita,
While Mitchell made 128 meters and made 21 tackles with just one miss, Suluka-Fifita recorded 199 running meters along with his 21 tackles—three misses.
Daejarn Asi rejoined the Eels Cup team at fullback following Dylan Brown’s return from suspension, and he was a key contributor to their victory over the Dragons. In addition to scoring a hat-trick, Asi also created a linebreak, five tackle busts, and 159 running meters.
Additionally, Dragons center Savelio Tamale scored four tries for a losing team in a spectacle that was uncannily identical to the NRL match between the two clubs. On Sunday, Mikaele Ravalawa followed suit. Along with his tries, Tamale concluded with a game-high 229 meters, nine tackle busts, and two linebreaks.
Prop Matt Koellner deserves special recognition for his best-yet effort in the Queensland Cup. The 26-year-old didn’t play in another Cup match until Round 9 of this year with Burleigh, having made his Cup debut with Tweed in 2021.
Having played for Tugun in the local A-Grade, he joined Burleigh on a train-and-trial this year and eventually made it into the 17 in Round 9. It will be difficult to drop him following his performance over the weekend, which included two try assists, five tackle busts, a linebreak, 197 running meters, and 27 tackles with zero misses. He was dropped in Round 15 and then called back up a week later.
