Melbourne Storm CEO Justin Rodski has revealed the horrific extent of Ryan Papenhuyzen’s knee injury.
Papenhuyzen was injured after clashing knees with Canberra’s Jack Wighton in Sunday’s loss at AAMI Park, with the initial diagnosis being that he suffered a fractured kneecap.
While the technical description of his injury remains the same, Rodski revealed that the star fullback effectively shattered his kneecap, with the bone broken in 10 different places.
“It certainly was one of those collision injuries that when he went down everyone stopped, you could feel the tension in the air,” Rodski said on SEN Breakfast.
“Obviously, it’s really disappointing for him, he’s had a really tough run with injuries.
“He put his body on the line on Sunday afternoon and I think he broke his kneecap in 10 different places in the end, it was a pretty brutal injury.”
Upon hearing the extent of the injury, Rodski was shocked to learn that surgeons were certain he’d make a full return after pins and clips were inserted to hold the kneecap together.
“I asked our team doctor because I couldn’t get how you would piece it back together,” Rodski said.
“They put pins and certain little clips in that stay inside your knee and inside your body.
“Apparently, it can heal really quickly with the pins and the clips and he can make a full recovery which is fantastic.
“It certainly isn’t great, we were really feeling for him, he’s had such a tough run of injuries but whenever he gets back, he’s been in blistering form.”
Having undergone surgery on Monday, Rodski confirmed that the procedure was a success and that he’d be fit to attack the club’s entire 2023 pre-season.
“He’s had surgery now though and it was a success,” Rodski said.
“His recovery time is around three months I think, we won’t see him again this year, unfortunately.”
With the number one ruled out for the rest of the 2022 campaign, Rodski confirmed that the club would be pursuing a short-term replacement on the open market for the remainder of the year.
“He’s so important for our team and our structure as a fullback, it was heartbreaking as a club,” Rodski said.
“Now we’ve got to move forward, find a replacement and get back on the winner’s list.
“We’ve got one more list spot which we can fill, we’ve got until August 1 to do that.
“We’re working through our options there, outside back is key to us moving forward with Papenhuyzen now out.”
Outside back Nick Meaney has been named as Papenhuyzen’s starting fullback replacement for the Storm’s clash with the Rabbitohs on Saturday night.