Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuzyen has suffered a fractured knee cap after a heavy collision with Raiders star Jack Wighton.
In the 20th minute of Melbourne's clash with Canberra on Sunday afternoon, Wighton streaked away for a linebreak and collided with Papenhuyzen.
The pair clashed knees during the heavy contact, leaving the Storm superstar down.
This isn't good. 😓 Ryan Papenhuyzen is in serious pain after this collision with Jack Wighton. 💔
— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) July 17, 2022
📺 #NRLStormRaiders | LIVE on Channel 9 and 9Now.#9WWOS #NRL pic.twitter.com/9xRn1yxDzo
Melbourne confirmed Papenhuyzen had sustained a fractured patella.
Papi update 🤕
— Melbourne Storm (@storm) July 17, 2022
He has a suspected fractured knee cap.
Breaking news out of @storm sheds … Ryan Papenhuyzen has a suspected fractured patella (kneecap) after heavy contact with Jack Wighton. Huge blow #NRLStormRaiders
— Jake Duke (@JakeDuke1) July 17, 2022
Suspected patella (kneecap) fracture for Ryan Papenhuyzen, wide range of outcomes depending on severity/fracture type. Ranges from 6 weeks to 6 months recovery, unfortunately w the significant force & traumatic nature of the injury likely multiple months recovery ahead. 🤞for him pic.twitter.com/awnt28LvVK
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) July 17, 2022
Papenhuyzen was seen in serious pain while being attended to by a Storm trainer on the field, before being replaced by rookie utility Tyran Wishart.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy said his fullback was unlikely to return in 2022.
“He is thousands (to return this year) – he has got a broken knee cap," Bellamy said.
"He won’t be back I wouldn’t imagine. It seems to keep happening these injuries…that’s obviously disappointing."c