Paps stars in Storm comeback but Bulldogs finish too strong

Ryan Papenhuyzen made a stunning return for the Storm in the opening match of the NRL Pre-season Challenge but the Bulldogs finished too strong to win 24-12.

Papenhuyzen's career was in the balance after he suffered a sickening leg injury in last September's preliminary final loss to Brisbane just three matches into his return from a 14-month lay-off with a fractured kneecap.

However, the star fullback left no doubt that he would have a significant impact on Melbourne's fortunes this season after creating a try for winger Dean Ieremia and scoring one himself in a spectacular 40-minute stint.     

The Bulldogs dominated the first half in virtually area of the game but trailed 12-10 at the interval after Papenhuyzen raced through to catch a kick from a rehearsed scrum move.

Canterbury centre Eli Clark opened the scoring in just the fifth minute after Reed Mahoney shuffled across field from dummy half to put the rookie over untouched following a penalty near the Storm line against prop Aaron Pene.

Dean Ieremia responded for the Storm in the 13th minute after Papenhuyzen chimed into the backline to create space for his right winger, who missed all of last season due to a knee injury. 

Bulldogs winger Blake Wilson regained the lead for the home side in the 24th minute when he stood up Melbourne five-eighth Keagan Russell-Smith after picking up loose ball to score.

With halves Drew Hutchison and Matt Burton playing both sides of the ruck, Blake Taaffe adding spark from the back and Jaeman Salmon performing the role of ball playing lock, the Bulldogs constantly threatened in attack. 

However, the Storm's defence kept them in the game, with Ieremia stopping Bronson Xerri short of the tryline, Tuipulotu Katoa knocking down a ball to stop another attack and Sam Hughes losing possession as he reached out to score.

Papenhuyzen then put the visitors ahead at the break after racing through to regather a perfectly placed Pezet kick from a rehearsed scrum-base move and score as the halftime siren sounded. 

Xerri also scored a try in his first match after serving a four year doping ban and threw the final pass for winger Jeral Skelton to score as the Bulldogs finished too strong for Melbourne.

The Bulldogs fielded the nucleus of last year's Jersey Flegg winning backline in the second half and halves Bailey Hayward and Joseph O'Neill combined with fullback Joash Papalii to put winger Jonathan Sua over in the 73rd minute.

Match snapshot

• Bulldogs captain Reed Mahoney was placed on report for a 12th minute tackle on rookie Storm five-eighth Keagan Russell-Smith.
• Off-season recruits Blake Taaffe, Drew Hutchison, Jaeman Salmon and Poasa Faamausili made their first appearances in a Canterbury jersey.
• Storm 2021 rookie of the year Dean Ieremia, one of just four Victorians to play NRL for the club, made a successful return after rupturing an ACL in last year's Pre-season Challenge.

• Ryan Papenhuyzen played the first half only, while Bulldogs stars Matt Burton, Drew Hutchison, Blake Taaffe and Jaeman Salmon were replaced soon after the interval.
• Bulldogs centre Bronson Xerri carried the ball for 101 metres in the first half and finished with a game high 161m.
• The Bulldogs picked up two bonus points - one for scoring five tries and one for having five line breaks.