AAP Rugby

Storm's Papenhuyzen breaks ankle in Broncos defeat

By AAP Newswire

Sep 8, 2023

Melbourne star Ryan Papenhuyzen suffered a broken ankle in the 26-0 NRL qualifying final loss to Brisbane just minutes after winger Xavier Coates limped off.

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The sight of the Papenhuyzen being taken off the field on a medicab in the 73rd minute was heartbreaking for the 25-year-old and his Storm teammates.

The 2020 Clive Churchill Medal and premiership-winning fullback shattered his kneecap into 10 pieces in July of last year, returning against Gold Coast in round 26 this season after a 405-day absence from the NRL.

He was just starting to get back into his groove when disaster struck at Suncorp Stadium.

Papenhuyzen was making a tackle when he reached for his lower right leg in agony.

Play stopped for minutes as he was carefully placed on the medicab and taken off.

Melbourne No.6 Cameron Munster was devastated for his teammate and good friend.

"I feel sorry for him. I probably saw (the ankle) out of the socket," Munster told the Nine Network.

"It is sad news for him and the club ... It is a bad injury run for him but hopefully he'll come back and we will see the Pappy that we know. We are fully behind him and I will make sure he is right tonight."

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press