Reynolds vows to return before finals, but more bad luck for Papenhuyzen

Adam Reynolds has declared he will return to the NRL before the finals.

The Broncos skipper ruptured a biceps in Friday night’s big loss to the Roosters, but he is hopeful he will be back on the field by round 22 when Brisbane take on the Gold Coast Titans.

Reynolds will have surgery on Monday and believes the time out will help freshen the rest of his body for the finals.

“I’m aiming to be back about a month before finals, and if anything it could be a blessing because I can come back fit and fresh and try to inject some life into the team,” Reynolds said.

“It’s a long year, and it’s always good when you have some fresh legs at the back end of the year.”

Silence fell across Suncorp Stadium on Friday night when Reynolds went to tackle Roosters centre Junior Pauga early in the second half and immediately clutched at his left biceps. He tried to run back into the defensive line and tackled Joseph Suaalii with his right arm, before he walked off to a standing ovation.

“It was a weird one, it wasn’t too sore, it just felt like a burst of air went out of my arm,” Reynolds said. “It felt weak. When I went to grab it, my bicep wasn’t there. For a little fella, the ‘guns’ aren’t too bad, but it felt like jelly.

“I’ll have the surgery, then basically not do anything for the first two weeks. I’ll then get on the bike, then start running after four weeks.

“I knew it wasn’t season-ending. I always knew biceps were around a three-month recovery. I’m glad it didn’t happen later in the season. Kobe [Hetherington] did it last year, Herbie [Farnworth] did one, and ‘Sutto’ [John Sutton] did it when I was at Souths.

“The Titans game in round 22 would be nice, or the Cowboys the following week. There’s a bye and then Parramatta [in round 25], but I’d like to get back a week before the bye so you can have the contact and then a week to get over the soreness.”

More poor injury luck for Papenhuyzen

Melbourne lost luckless fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen to an ankle injury in a nail-biting 22-20 win over the gallant Gold Coast on Saturday.

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.

The 25-year-old was in a moon boot and on crutches at half-time after setting up two tries and scoring one of his own.

Papenhuyzen has suffered a number of serious injuries in recent years. He had a serious concussion in a sickening incident in Magic Round in 2021, which kept him out for 10 weeks, then shattered a knee cap against the Raiders in 2022 and missed more than a year of football.

After months of agonising rehabilitation, he made it back onto the field in round 26 last year as part of a three-game cameo, which ended with a bone sticking out of his right ankle against the Broncos in the first week of the finals.

The match turned when Gold Coast winger Phil Sami scored in the corner on 35 minutes when he appeared to bounce the ball over the line. Sami laughed when the bunker awarded it.

After the break, Brimson crashed over next to the sticks and a penalty goal levelled it up at 20-20.

Storm goalkicker Nick Meaney hit the post with one penalty attempt but landed his second from the same spot.

Sami was denied with three minutes to go when he put his foot on the touchline while attempting to score.

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Why Cleary wants people to relax about his hamstring

Nathan Cleary wants everybody to relax about his much-discussed hamstring and is grateful the time out from the game has allowed him to freshen up mentally on the eve of the State of Origin series.

Panthers fans – and NSW supporters – were entitled to feel concerned when Cleary was a late withdrawal against South Sydney on Thursday night. He had been back for just one game, against the Cowboys in Townsville, when he was rested again.

Coach Ivan Cleary explained after the 42-12 win over the Rabbitohs that the short turnaround following a tough game in humid conditions was the simple reason the club played it safe with his son.

Nathan told this masthead he trained well on Friday and would be a definite starter against the Bulldogs this Friday.

With only three rounds until the first NSW team is picked – and with back-up Blues No.7 options Mitchell Moses (foot) and now Adam Reynolds (biceps) out of action – Cleary could appreciate the extra attention on his fitness.

“We thought it was best not to risk it this early in the season, and because of the short turnaround, but I’m fine, and I trained Friday,” Cleary said.

“I’ve done all the work and rehab. You could go into every game worrying about getting injured, and it’s a contact sport, but the hamstring is definitely not on my mind.

Nathan Cleary is confident he has recovered from his latest hamstring injury, despite being rested just one game into his comeback.

“You always have to look at the positives when you’re not playing, and what it has done is allowed me to feel mentally fresh. You get to see the game from a different perspective. I’m definitely ready to get back and play some good footy.”

Cleary injured his left hamstring last year, which ruled him out of games two and three of the Origin series. He returned for the back half of the season and produced a Clive Churchill Medal-winning performance in the grand final as Penrith won their third straight premiership.

This time the injury has been to Cleary’s right hamstring, which happened against the Broncos in round three.

Penrith are likely to have Cleary, Isaah Yeo and Liam Martin picked for the Blues, while there is also plenty of support for fullback Dylan Edwards to unseat incumbent James Tedesco.

Now known by some at the club as “Dr Evil” because of his new bald look, Edwards was outstanding against the Bunnies before being given a rare early mark.

“Dyl is an absolute freak and only getting better – playing alongside him is an absolute pleasure, and he’d be a great asset to any team,” Cleary said.

“I don’t think he’s played as well as he has [recently], but he’s also been that consistent the last three years. He’s strong, fit and fast – he’s got everything.”

The Panthers will lose Izack Tago to suspension for a hip-drop tackle next week, which paves the way for the underrated Paul Alamoti to start at centre against former club Canterbury.

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