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Melbourne bosses expect Ryan Papenhuyzen to leave the NRL, with defection to R360 a live possibility, after the superstar quit the Storm to consider his future.
Papenhuyzen ended weeks of talks with the Storm by requesting an immediate release this week, ending his nine-year stay at the club.
Where the fullback goes next remains a mystery, with CEO Justin Rodski insistent neither the club or the fullback know what the 27-year-old’s future looks like.
Papenhuyzen has made no secret of the fact his management have held talks with breakaway rugby competition R360, where he is believed to be a primary target.
But even that is not meant to start until next October at the earliest, leaving questions over his next move.
He took to Instagram to say: “Real peace is an inside job. It comes from understanding that the game, and this life, will never go exactly as you plan. It comes from understanding that there are forces at play that are beyond you.
“It comes from one quiet truth: You gave it everything you had. That’s always a victory.”
The NRL recently announced players and agents who negotiate with R360 could face a 10-year ban from the sport as a way of trying to stop high-profile stars from joining the controversial global start-up league.
“I genuinely think it will be playing overseas or not playing at all,” Rodski said on SEN.
“There has been a lot of speculation about R360 and whether or not Ryan was going to sign with R360, and that could be on the cards as well.
“He may end up signing on with R360, but I just don’t know if that is something he is going to do now.
Ryan Papenhuyzen celebrates with teammates. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
“For him professional sport’s not everything, and he came to the realisation that he just wanted to take some time to think about what he wants to do next.
“It just became clear Ryan was considering his future, and not just his future in the game but his future as a professional athlete.”
After debuting with Melbourne in 2019, Papenhuyzen has turned into one of the game’s elite players.
He won the Clive Churchill Medal in the club’s premiership success in his first full season at fullback in 2020, and has scored 77 tries in 113 matches for Melbourne.
But he has also battled long injuries in 2022 and 2023, before returning to the field more regularly for the past two seasons and helping the Storm to two grand finals.
Both of those deciders ended in defeat, with Papenhuyzen enduring a tough second half in the Storm’s 26-22 loss to Brisbane this month.
In a club statement, the Storm confirmed Papenhuyzen’s decision to “take a break from the game” was due to him wanting to “consider his future”.
Sua Fa’alogo. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
“I want to thank the club for their understanding and support throughout this process,” Papenhuyzen said.
“I also want to thank my teammates, coaches and staff for all their love and support, it’s been a privilege playing footy and working with you.
“I’ve loved my time at Melbourne Storm. I’ve enjoyed close to a decade of incredible memories and experiences in the purple jersey.”
Melbourne have Sua Fa’alogo available to play fullback, while Papenhuyzen’s exit will ease some salary-cap pressure.
Harry Grant is expected to announce a contract extension with the club shortly, while Cameron Munster is certain to be in demand when he comes off contract at the end of 2027.
with AAP