Melbourne Storm’s General Manager of Football, Frank Ponissi has given an update on the injured Cameron Munster while also providing the latest on Jahrome Hughes and Ryan Papenhuyzen ahead of the Club’s Round 12 match against the Sea Eagles.
Having been forced from the field just shy of half-time in the Club’s Magic Round win over the Eels, scans yesterday confirmed a tear in the adductor tendon for Munster, with the exciting playmaker set to miss 8-10 weeks.
“It’s obviously been an injury that [Cameron’s] been carrying for a number of weeks...it kept him out of the first couple of games and he's been getting through week to week but basically it's been painful for him and it all came to a climax on Sunday,” Ponissi said.
“He had scans yesterday and our doctors consulted with a number of experts and decided the best rehab is to keep him out for the next 8-10 weeks.
“It'll be an opportunity to rest, to strengthen it and then really give it the best possible chance for him to finish the season at the back end,” Ponissi added.
In some good injury news, fellow half Jahrome Hughes has been named to return from a calf injury, given he can pull through this week’s training in good condition.
“He had a good running session on the weekend and while he'll be named he will train tomorrow and then a decision will be made after training,” Ponissi said.
“Given that we have a bye next weekend, obviously there is the thought of giving him a rest this week so he comes back absolutely 100% but if he gets through tomorrow and he's at 100% then he will play Friday.”
In his bid to return to the field after suffering an ankle injury in the Round 9 win over the Titans, Ponissi confirmed Ryan Papenhuyzen has continued to progress well in his rehab.
"He’s seeing the surgeon again either today or tomorrow and he will start a little bit of running after the bye and then he'll get into full training.
"Hopefully a couple of weeks after that, he'll be available for selection so now he's looking good to come back sometime in June,” Ponissi said.
Across the squad, Aaron Pene will be available for selection for the Club’s feeder teams this weekend, while Tepai Moeroa and Marion Seve are still a few weeks away from making a return.
"Our depth is really going to be stretched, so the availability of those players is going to be critical over during the Origin period for us to have a really good period and maintain our position at the top end of the table,” Ponissi said.
