- Ryan Papenhuyzen will play this weekend
- The Storm pistol has had bad luck with injuries
- His return is a big boost for the Storm
Melbourne’s most magnificent mullet is back, with Storm naming Ryan Papenhuyzen to return from a hairline fracture to his fibula that kept him sidelined for more than a month.
In a round where most teams are devastated by State of Origin, Papenhuyzen is one of several returning superstars on deck, with the Storm fullback cleared to return for the heavyweight clash against the Dolphins.
His return is a huge boost as Cameron Munster is still injured and Harry Grant and Xavier Coates are on Origin duty, with excitement machine Sua Fa’alogo moving to the wing for the trip to Queensland.
They face a Dolphins team that has the luxury of choosing fullback Trai Fuller instead of speedster Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, who scored the try of the year at Cronulla last week, while Tevita Pangai Junior earned a place in the bench after returning from a failed stint in boxing.
Football’s best mullet is back, with Ryan Papenhuyzen selected by the Storm
The Melbourne player has had a torrid run of injuries that has kept him sidelined.
The Roosters have shown faith in Brandon Smith, with the international hooker returning immediately after being dropped last week for missing a team meeting.
They will be without their Origin quartet but have still named a formidable team to face a Bulldogs team that named winger Jeral Skelton but will be without Jacob Preston (foot).
There are a couple of key Gold Coast inclusions – the hosts named David Fifita after he missed last week’s ugly defeat to the Wests Tigers, while Roger Tuivasa-Sheck returns at center for the Warriors after recovering from a hamstring injury.