“I actually hate seeing that stuff for any participant – Paps is a superb bloke and an excellent sportsman,” Wighton stated.
“I’m hoping he’s alright and wishing him effectively. He’s a champion bloke and participant.”
Papenhuyzen tried to face and put weight on the harm however fell down once more and wanted to be helped from the sphere, with the Storm shortly confirming he had a suspected fractured knee cap whereas it wasn’t clear if he had additional broken any of his knee ligaments.
Ryan Papenhuyzen goes down with a critical knee harm.Credit score:NRL Photographs
However his return this season seems extremely unlikely with seven video games left earlier than finals whereas the loss sees the staff fall to fourth place with an 11-6 report now equal with fifth-placed Brisbane Broncos.
The Raiders nonetheless have a number of work to do to make the highest eight however this win will give them hope of a late-season revival.
“We’re nonetheless within the hunt,” Raiders coach Ricky Stuart declared submit recreation. “There isn’t a doubt about that.”
Stuart additionally stated winger James Schiller, who scored two tries, had an ankle harm however it didn’t look too extreme after he went down late within the recreation.
Wighton added his younger aspect couldn’t get distracted and wanted to construct from there.
“It was superior mate. Precisely what we wished,” Wighton stated.
“We’ve carried out completely nothing but. We need to attempt to construct on that and in addition take a little bit of pleasure out of it and hold ticking off these two-pointers [wins] and construct on this win.”
Storm legend Cameron Smith made his long-awaited farewell to AAMI Park pre-game strolling a lap of honour, whereas the jap stand has been renamed the Cameron Smith Stand for Storm dwelling video games.
Cameron Munster had spent the week in isolation after testing constructive to COVID-19 and lacking Queensland’s game-three win within the State of Origin.
He powered into the competition like he had power to burn, making two line-breaks within the opening 14 minutes and having a hand within the opening attempt by feeding Kenny Bromwich on the left edge who offloaded to Nick Meaney for the attempt.
The Storm appeared in whole management in these early minutes till Papenhuyzen burst onto the left edge and threw a blind go which was intercepted by centre Sebastian Kris, who ran 80 metres to attain beneath the posts and degree the sport at 6-6.
The Raiders prolonged their lead by way of a attempt from Schiller on 22 minutes, making it 14-6 to the guests.
Munster and Jahrome Hughes appeared have created a attempt quickly after however a video evaluation confirmed Hughes had fumbled the ball whereas making an attempt to dive and floor it, whereas Justin Olam’s desperation sort out stopped a sure Canberra attempt simply earlier than half-time.
The Storm couldn’t pierce Canberra’s defence to begin the second half regardless of a number of shut calls however their strain started to construct earlier than Hughes burst over after 20m run to make it 14-10 on 50 minutes.
Canberra’s Jordan Rapana was despatched to the sin bin go to on 57 minutes after amassing Storm centre Marion Seve across the head in a sort out. Seve was pressured to depart the sphere for a head harm evaluation.
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Storm star Harry Grant powered over from dummy-half to attain the go-ahead attempt, which Meaney transformed for a 14-12 lead with 20 minutes to play.
However the Raiders fought again behind two penalties, the second for Munster showing to speak again to the referee, and it led to Schiller making a attempt from nothing, kicking to himself on the final sort out and toeing the fitting sideline earlier than touching the ball all the way down to make it 20-16 to Canberra with 10 minutes to go.
Schiller went down with what gave the impression to be an ankle harm with about eight minutes to play however the Storm couldn’t capitalise regardless of Olam operating to the attempt line earlier than being held up.
Hughes appeared to have gone over with three minutes left however the Raiders managed to hit him exhausting sufficient to knock the ball free and the Raiders held on for victory.
The Storm play South Sydney at Accor Stadium this Saturday at 7.35pm.
