Melbourne have lost star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen to an ankle injury in a nailbiting 22-20 win over the gallant Gold Coast. The rugby league world held its breath at Robina on Saturday when the dazzling Storm No.1 clutched at his right ankle while making a tackle late in the first half. It was the same ankle he broke in week one of the finals against Brisbane last year, after he missed 13 months with a shattered kneecap.
Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster, in his 200th NRL game, started and finished a classic try that showcased the skill of Papenhuyzen and much-improved second-rower Shawn Blore. Munster and Papenhuyzen sent winger Will Warbrick over from a scrum before the Storm fullback finished a Munster/Blore liaison for a classic try of his own.