'Threw me under the bus': Ryan Papenhuyzen takes swipe at coach Craig Bellamy amid injury concerns

Storm superstar Ryan Papenhuyzen claims he is still a "massive chance" of lining up in the club's season opener, despite recent comments from coach Craig Bellamy.

The 26-year-old didn't feature in either of Melbourne's pre-season trials, with Bellamy coming out and publicly stating Papenhuyzen was "doubtful" to play in round one.

Bellamy also said that Papenhuyzen was dealing with both knee and ankle issues, but that might not be the case according to the 2020 Clive Churchill Medal winner.

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Speaking on the latest edition of the 167 Podcast alongside teammates Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster, the fullback was asked if he would be fit to play against the Eels and took a swipe at his mentor in the process.

"Massive chance," Papenhuyzen said.

"Bellza threw me under the bus. He said it was my knee and ankle and made it sound like I'm breaking down - it's not my ankle, it's just my knee.

"I had a little tear in my meniscus and while that's sweet now I've got a little stitching from my knee surgery that's calcified ... that's just caused a bit of irritation.

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"I've run the last couple of training sessions. It just seems to be one thing after the next but it's not too bad I've just got to manage what it is. Hopefully, I get the all-clear.

"Bellza is always glass half-empty. It's a weird one, it's a day-by-day one."

Should he be ruled out, Papenhuyzen will likely be replaced by whiz kid Sua Faalogo, who played in the trials and has been cleared of a serious hamstring injury.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona will miss the Storm's first two games through suspension, which also ruled him out of last year's grand final against Penrith.