Storm dealt injury blow ahead of finals

Joshua Mayne

Storm dealt injury blow ahead of finals image

Melbourne have been dealt an injury blow one week out from their qualifying final.

Young fullback Sualauvi Fa'alogo suffered a low-grade hamstring strain during the Storm's 50-12 win over the Broncos.

The club confirmed the news on Friday evening, with the exciting 21-year-old "likely to be sidelined for 2-3 weeks". 

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Fa'alogo's fresh injury now makes the fitness of first-choice option Ryan Papenhuyzen all the more important. 

Papenhuyzen departed the field with a leg injury against the Cowboys in Round 26, where it was later revealed he suffered some bone bruising. 

The Storm No. 1 was not included in Craig Bellamy's side in Brisbane on Thursday, although the team is confident he will be available for the first week of finals action.

 "At a pinch, Paps could have played for us this week," Bellamy said after Melbourne thrashed the Broncos.

"The medical staff seem to think he'll be right for next week."

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During Papenhuyzen's mid-season injury spell, Fa'alogo was generally called up to fill in at fullback.

In the unlikely event Papenhuyzen doesn't return for their qualifying final, Nick Meaney would be the probable next man up, causing a back-line shuffle.

Meaney regularly featured in the No. 1 jersey last season. 

Joshua Mayne

Joshua Mayne Photo

Joshua Mayne is a content producer for The Sporting News currently based in Manchester, England. He has previously worked as a newsreader at 2SER and journalist at Ministry of Sport. Joshua specialises in rugby league, motorsport and tennis. He is still waiting for Arsenal to win the Premier League again.