Cameron Munster has hinted that former Storm teammate Ryan Papenhuyzen may not return to professional sport at all, after revealing details of a recent concussion that ‘rattled’ the 27-year-old. Papenhuyzen sent shockwaves around the NRL world last week after announcing he was quitting the sport, despite having one year remaining on his contract with Melbourne.
The star fullback has consistently been linked with a switch to rebel rugby competition, R360. And there have been suggestions that by cutting ties with Melbourne, it would allow Papenhuyzen to sign with R360 and also avoid a potential 10-year ban from the NRL, if he wanted to return in the future.
Cameron Munster has cast doubts around whether former Storm teammate Ryan Papenhuyzen will return to professional sport at all. Pic: Getty
Melbourne said after confirming Papenhuyzen’s release that he would ‘take a break away from the game to consider his future’. But Storm chief executive Justin Rodski admitted they were unsure what he would do next, after suggesting it was more than just a sporting decision.
“It started to emerge that perhaps Ryan was looking to take some time out from the game and professional sport so we worked closely with him on that over that period of time,” Rodski told SEN radio. “In the end he came to that decision that his preference would be to seek a release from the club so he could take some time away from the game and professional sport and have a think about what he wants to do not just in sport but life.”
And Munster admitted that after speaking with his former teammate in recent days, he’s not sure whether Papenhuyzen will return to the playing field at all. The 27-year-old has endured a horror run of injuries in recent seasons, but has shown incredible resilience to bounce back and feature in consecutive NRL grand finals for the Storm.
But it was Papenhuyzen’s most recent head knock against Brisbane in September that Munster says factored heavily into his teammate’s decision to quit. The speedster suffered a concussion in the final round loss to the Broncos that ruled him out of week one of the finals.
Ryan Papenhuyzen suffered a concussion in the round 27 defeat to the Broncos in the NRL. Pic: Getty/AAP
Ryan Papenhuyzen ‘a bit rattled’ by recent concussion
And Munster told league reporter Michael Chammas after the Kangaroos’ second Test victory over England, that it’s left Papenhuyzen questioning his future. “I’m disappointed that we’re losing him, he’s been a class player for us for a long time and I know he’s had a long run of injuries,” the Kangaroos five-eighth said about Papenhuyzen in the interview that aired on Sydney’s Triple M.
“He’s had some interesting stuff with his head too, obviously the last one (concussion) he had was against the Broncos in Brissy. It got him a bit rattled and he’s put his health before himself and taken a year off.
“There’s obviously been speculation about him going somewhere else and switching codes (to R360) but knowing Paps, he’s an honest man and if he says he needs a year off then he needs a year off. I don’t know what lies ahead.
“I know he’s doing a lot of psychology and work with his brain and stuff around the mind. So he might even end up doing those things… I won’t talk a whole heap more about it. It’s his life, all the best with it and I won’t be a stranger… we have a great relationship.”
RELATED:
Papenhuyzen won the Clive Churchill Medal in the Storm’s last premiership triumph in 2020 and has been an integral part of Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy’s side for the last five years. After ending his Storm career with 77 tries in 113 games, Papenhuyzen’s exit is expected to see young gun Sua Faalogo given first crack in the No.1 jersey at Melbourne next season.