Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy concedes any rivals with a “fair bit of money” loom as a threat to the NRL, with his star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen in the sights of cashed-up breakaway rugby competition Rugby360.
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But after securing the signature of star halfback Jahrome Hughes until the end of 2030, Bellamy hopes Papenhuyzen remains a key member of his on-field spine that is only just starting to combine well after a run of injuries and interruptions.
A raft of high-profile NRL names have been linked to Rugby360, including Newcastle star Kalyn Ponga, and Warriors code-hopper Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is on the verge of agreeing to a deal worth close to $1.1m a year from 2027.
Papenhuyzen, who is contracted to the Storm until the end of 2026, has also been linked to the new Perth NRL franchise, but it’s been reported he could make up to $1.5m a year should he swap codes and join Rugby360.
Bellamy said he wasn’t well placed to talk about where Papenhuyzen stood but noted cashed-up rivals would always be a threat.
“I don’t know enough about that to have a real comment on that,” he said on Wednesday.
“But if they have got a fair bit of money and are willing to throw it at people, that’s going to be a threat.”
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Melbourne also needs to get a signature from captain Harry Grant, whose deal also expires at the end of 2026. Superstar playmaker Cameron Munster is signed until the end of 2027 but is in the sights of the Perth team that will be coached by NRL legend Mal Meninga.
Bellamy said the key quartet, who make up Melbourne’s spine, were just starting to find their groove and hoped Hughes’s decision to stay would have some impact on the decisions facing his teammates.
“Yeah, it would be nice I think for them,” he said.
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“They’ve been together a little while now, but it’s just starting to combine really well and getting to know each other really well.
“Hopefully, they can keep that going and stay together.”
Munster will return to action this weekend after grieving the loss of his father and link up with Tyran Wishart in the halves against Parramatta in the absence of Hughes, who dislocated his shoulder last Thursday night.
“It will be interesting, I don’t think they’ve played together actually as halves,” Bellamy said of his new playmaking combination.
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“They’re both probably similar, their strength is their running games.
“Someone’s going to have to take charge. Munster is up for that and I’m sure he’ll look forward to the challenge.
“Obviously, he’s had a couple of difficult weeks, obviously the high up there winning Origin (with Queensland) but we’re real low with what happened to his dad.
“He spent some time with his family, he needed to do that. It takes a little while to get over those sort of things. We’ll support him as much as we can.”
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