Melbourne legend Billy Slater says superstar fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen almost certainly won’t be in the starting side, and may not make the team at all for Friday’s final against Brisbane.
Papenhuyzen has returned from a long injury lay-off and played a game off the bench and last week started at fullback as Nick Meaney was rested.
Slater says Meaney will return to the No.1 jumper this week, while $800,000 superstar Papenhuyzen might also lose his spot on the bench to Bronson Garlick.
Garlick is a 20-game rookie this year who has played all but five of his NRL games to date off the bench.
“Meaney has been the fullback all year, he’s done a wonderful job… I think he’s up there with Dylan Edwards and Clint Gutherson in terms of positional play, worth ethic within his game, he’s doing a remarkable job.
“I think (Bellamy) will go with Meaney as his fullback and put Papenhuyzen on the bench.
“The decision… is probably Bronson Garlick or Ryan Papenhuyzen. I don’t know if he can carry both of them on the bench.”
