Storm watch for two stars ahead of Manly battle

Injured fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen is no certainty to play in Melbourne’s NRL clash with Manly and neither is a grieving Cameron Munster.

Papenhuyzen is battling a niggling calf strain that has seen him withdraw on the eve of the Storm’s two previous matches, against Newcastle and North Queensland.

Munster still hasn’t returned to Melbourne headquarters following the death of his father Steven and his heroic performance in the State of Origin decider.

“The club’s been really good to give him some time off and obviously the emotional rollercoaster of Origin, let alone the passing of Steve, it’s a massive toll to come back from,” Papenhuyzen told AAP.“We haven’t seen him in yet - he’s replied to all our messages though, and, he’s in good spirits, but yeah, it’s a grieving process you need to let people go through.”

While the team has won both matches in Papenhuyzen’s absence it’s been a frustrating time for the 27-year-old, who has a long history of injury.

“It feels like it’s improving, it’s more just I can’t really tell unless I’m running and we shut it down the last few days so I can’t really give an indicator of where it’s at,” he said.

“I’ll have a run on Wednesday and if it’s no good we will shut it down again ... it’s a five-day turnaround into the Roosters so we can’t be messing around.

“These little ones are more annoying in the sense that you can see the finish line and you want to push but you’ve got the bigger goal at the end of the year so I’ve got to be smart around that.”

Nick Meaney has flourished in his return to the fullback role and Papenhuyzen joked he might have a fight on his hands to recover the No.1 jersey and the Storm’s goal-kicking duties.

Papenhuyzen has been linked to a proposed northern hemisphere rebel rugby union competition named R360.

While the Saudi-backed league is still in the very early stages, players have reportedly been offered $A2 million a season which Papenhuyzen said any player would “have to consider”.

But Papenhuyzen, who played rugby at school in Sydney, said he was contracted to the Storm next year and that remained his focus.

“I’ve just got a big focus for winning the premiership and hopefully going back-to-back next year and then we’ll see, but you always look forward to your future and see what’s happening,” he said.

“I’m sure my manager is doing a good job with that and has got it all under control.”