- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Billy Slater’s stamp is all over Ryan Papenhuyzen, who stunned the NRL world scoring four tries in just 11 minutes in Melbourne’s 40-6 defeat of Brisbane, according to Storm coach Craig Bellamy.
Papenhuyzen stunned the AAMI Park crowd on Good Friday with his first-half heroics to match the try-scoring record shared by six other Storm players, including Slater back in 2009.
Papenhuyzen’s ability to read the play, back up a half break or be on the spot for an offload, his speed off the mark, and his toughness all bear shades of Slater.
And no wonder, with the Melbourne great his personal coach.
Bellamy said the club had Slater, who retired at the end of 2018, to thank for the rise of Papenhuyzen.
(Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)
“With all due respect, I think Paps has benefited from Billy coming before him,” Bellamy said.
“No-one’s been more important in Paps’ development than Billy Slater.
“We’d like to put our hand up and say we’ve helped him here or there and taught him this or that but Billy’s been his mentor, his teacher.
“Paps wouldn’t be where he is if it wasn’t for Billy Slater.”
Social media was abuzz that Papenhuyzen’s first-half haul of 24 points eclipsed the three-round total of their next opponents Canterbury, who haven’t scored a point since Round 1.
The Bulldogs’ task at Stadium Australia next Saturday doesn’t get any easier with Melbourne set to welcome back hooker Harry Grant, who has missed the start of the season with a knee injury.
Suspended second-rower Felise Kaufusi will also return to the line-up.
But Bellamy said co-captain Dale Finucane (calf) was unlikely and ruled out centre Brenko Lee (calf/hamstring).
“We’re a chance of having Harry – we just need to see how he gets through this week,” Bellamy said.
“With Brenko, he hasn’t played and it’s not likely the Queensland Cup is going to have some games for a little while so it’s hard for Brenko.
“We’re just going to have to go on his training and hopefully he will get through a week of that and we will go from there.”
© AAP
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.