Four-time grand final winner Slater said it was no fluke the Storm and Broncos were at their lethal best when Walsh and Papenhuyzen were heavily involved.
Ryan Papenhuyzen, Billy Slater and Reece WalshCredit: Stephen Kiprillis/SMH
Slater said a try just before the break last Friday proved Papenhuyzen was in the zone.
“‘Paps’ took a carry on Friday night, a run he didn’t need to have, then two players later he popped up on the inside of Cam Munster, chased a kick and then scored next to the post,” Slater said.
“He didn’t need to take that hit-up, but he did, got a quick play-the-ball, created a bit of space, and scored when players were starting to get tired.
“Reece is very similar. His last six weeks have been outstanding, and the more he gets the ball, the more chance he gets to show off his talents.”
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Papenhuyzen said he wanted to be involved from the opening whistle after hanging back and letting so many of the Storm’s other attacking weapons, including Munster, Jahrome Hughes and Harry Grant, take the lead.
“I had a real mentality against the Sharks to attack the game from the first minute, not expect things to open up, but to put myself in the picture – and the more I put myself in the picture, hopefully good things happened,” Papenhuyzen said.
“It was a bit of a mindset shift, to be fair.
“It’s hard sometimes when you have blokes in the team of the calibre of Munster, ‘Hughesy’, Harry, ‘Coatesy’ [Xavier Coates] and Stefano [Utoikamanu]. Sometimes you can get caught sitting back, waiting for them to do something.
“My mentality was to attack the game, and hopefully by me attacking the game, they’d realise they can attack the game as well. That’s when we play our best footy.”
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