With Storm star Ryan Papenhuyzen reportedly being shopped around to an unnamed Sydney club by a third party, there will likely be several teams looking to add the Melbourne flyer to their roster.
The SMH’s Danny Weidler reported the story, which the Storm has since denied. Weidler and SMH colleague Michael Chammas discussed the situation on their Footy Talk podcast, with the two outlining how it all came about.
“This whole story was denied by Melbourne because they are saying they don’t want to get rid of Ryan Papenhuyzen,” Weidler said.
Watch every match of Pacific Championships LIVE on Kayo Sports. Join Kayo now and start streaming instantly >
“It’s an interesting one because I know for a fact there was someone associated with the Storm asking questions of a Sydney club.
“It’s a way a club can do things without necessarily doing things. It’s a degree of separation. Just say you’re a Storm sponsor and you know someone at a Sydney club, so you might just pick up the phone and say ‘hey listen, if this happened, what would happen? Would you have interest?’”
“The (Sydney) club is undecided. I contacted Ryan about it to check how he felt about it and had he heard about it, and he said it was the first time he was hearing but he wasn’t angry. He knows this is a business.”
Papenhuyzen is currently recovering from an ankle injury that he sustained against the Broncos in the finals but is expecting to be right by the start of next season.
That was the second serious injury Papenhuyzen has suffered in the last two years. The 25-year-old was sidelined for over 12 months after dislocating his knee against Canberra in 2022, returning to play just three games this season before bad luck struck again.
Complicating the matter is the fact that Melbourne have a dearth of fullback options.
Nick Meaney did a terrific job in Papenhuyzen’s absence this season and young gun Sua Fa’alago changed the game in his debut for the Storm in Round 27 before handing in a near best-on-ground performance for Samoa at fullback against Australia.
It’s no surprise that Melbourne are already putting the wheels in motion to extend Fa’alago long term.
So where does that leave Papenhuyzen in the Storm’s plans?
Weidler asked whether Melbourne would or should initiate a player swap involving Papenhuyzen with a rival club, considering the Storm’s shortage of forwards.
MORE NRL NEWS
INTL TALKING POINTS: Kiwi beasts put Roos on notice; former star sends message
TEAM TIPS: Hynes’ looming Test debut as Mal eyes big Kangaroos shake-up
WHISPERS: Eels’ NRL plan for second Arthur son revealed; Roosters’ retention coup
“If I was Melbourne and I wasn’t chipping in for him, I’d consider it… On the surface, you’d look at it,” Chammas replied.
“If you were a rival club, you’d want to do a pretty serious medical to make sure Ryan Papenhuyzen is right.”
Weidler confirmed that the “approach was made with a view to make it happen sooner rather than later”.
So if there is a team out there willing to go in on Papenhuyzen and offer the Storm something too good to refuse, which NRL clubs are the most likely to do so?
PARRAMATTA EELS
It was reported back in May that the Eels were looking for a fullback with x-factor and had informed Clint Gutherson of their plans to search for a player of that description. It never eventuated into the club signing one this season, but with the Eels missing the finals the year after a runner-up finish, it’s hard to believe Parramatta have given up on their search. Papenhuyzen sure fits the bill of a player with x-factor assuming he makes a full recovery from his most recent ankle injury he suffered against Brisbane in the finals. Gutherson is one of the better players in the competition, but lacks the game-breaking speed that Papenhuyzen possesses. Ift the Eels make this move, Gutherson could switch to the centres with Papenhuyzen at fullback. That would make the Eels a much better team and they would in-turn boast one of the league’s best backlines. Alternatively, Gutherson could start at fullback with Papenhuyzen coming off the bench to replace him, however, that seems much less likely. The Eels aren’t short of forwards, while the Storm are in dire need of them, so if a player swap is needed to get a deal done, Melbourne shouldn’t have an issue picking one currently on Parramatta’s books.
CANBERRA RAIDERS
The report says a Sydney-based club was approached, but why couldn’t the Raiders make a play? They need another playmaker in the backline in the absence of Jack Wighton, and they have plenty of cash to find one. Seb Kris played very well at fullback this season, but he’s versatile, so if the Raiders can land Papenhuyzen, Kris will go back into the centres and form a lethal three-quarter pairing with the emerging Matt Timoko. Canberra have the promising Xavier Savage waiting in the wings, so a move for Papenhuyzen might not be on the radar at the moment, but if the Storm flyer becomes available, Ricky Stuart will certainly do his due diligence as you can never have enough talent, especially a team who just lost their best back.
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
“Jury’s out on Tyrell Sloan. I don’t think the Dragons and Shane Flanagan are convinced he’s the long term answer. So it could be the Dragons who go in on him (Papenhuyzen)” Chammas said on Footy Talk. Sloan is currently slated as the Red V’s starting fullback for 2024, but you’d have to think new coach Flanagan is always on the lookout for players to improve a team which was one of the worst in the NRL in 2023. Sloan showed glimpses this year, but there was just as many head-scratching moments as well. Flanagan hasn’t been scared to make tough decisions so far and attempt to ink a big name star, so it makes sense for Papenhuyzen to be on the Dragons’ radar. If nothing else, a move for Papenhuyzen could increase the chances Ben Hunt stays to at least honour his full contract.
Manly look to sign Brown for 2024 | 00:40
DOLPHINS
The NRL’s newest team have been keen to add a big fish since their inception, and while they’re going to welcome stud centre Herbie Farnworth and Origin prop Tom Flegler in 2024, a player of Papenhuyzen may appeal as well. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is the likely fullback to kick off next season, but coach Wayne Bennett had him in the centres at the back end of 2023 and the ‘Hammer’ has thrived in that position for the Maroons. The Dolphins could run out with Papenhuyzen at the back, another new recruit in Jake Averillo and Jamayne Isaako on the flanks with Farnworth and Tabuai-Fidow the centre pairing.
GOLD COAST TITANS
This is a long shot considering they have both AJ Brimson and Jayden Campbell, however Brimson shifted into the centres a couple of times this season and Campbell played well at five-eighth in a handful of games. A backline consisting of Papenhuyzen (fullback), Brimson (centre) and Campbell (five-eighth) would be quite scary.
Discussion about this post