Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters has revealed Ryan Papenhuyzen‘s Melbourne Storm teammates were “just as shocked as anyone” to hear he’d quit the NRL on Thursday. Papenhuyzen and the Storm announced he’s taking a break from the game to consider his future, with the club granting him an immediate release from his contract.
The timing was curious considering two of Papenhuyzen’s high-profile Storm teammates – Cameron Munster and Harry Grant – are currently in England playing for Australia in the Ashes. Papenhuyzen and Munster are close, and host a podcast together with fellow teammate Jahrome Hughes.
Kevin Walters (R) says Storm players Harry Grant and Cameron Munster (L) were just as shocked as everyone else. Image: AAP
But speaking to Channel 9 on Friday morning, Walters said Munster and Grant were just as rocked as everyone else in the NRL world to hear Papenhuyzen was quitting. Grant, who is Papenhuuzen’s captain at the Storm, had expressed his hope earlier this week that he’d re-sign with the club.
“They were as shocked as anyone to hear the news,” Walters said about Munster and Grant. “But I’m sure that Ryan has his plans and his ideas around his decision, and we support him in every way.
“As a rugby league fan, Ryan’s been a very good player for the Melbourne Storm, and for our game, a great ambassador as well. So, we just hope that he’s OK with 12 months, you know, maybe away from the game.
“I’m not sure what he’s going to get up to post that [break]. But he’s been a wonderful player for our game and a great ambassador as well, not only for the Storm but also for the NRL.”
Ryan Papenhuyzen is close with Melbourne Storm teammate Cameron Munster. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
‘Loophole’ to allow Ryan Papenhuyzen to avoid 10-year ban?
If Grant and Munster were truly in the dark about Papenhuyzen’s plan to quit immediately, it would fuel speculation the star fullback is eyeing a move to R360. The NRL has threatened bans of 10 years for anyone who quits the NRL to join the cashed-up rebel rugby comp.
But by leaving the NRL well in advance of R360 starting in October next year – and seemingly keeping his teammates in the dark – he might be able to get around the ban. Leading reporter Brent Read said Papenhuyzen won’t have been an NRL player for months if and when he potentially agrees to a deal with R360.
“I believe the R360 contracts begin in July, so he can take a break to July, potentially go to R360 and he’ll start getting paid from July,” Read said on Triple M on Friday. “The bit that makes it interesting is if he goes down that path, he won’t be an NRL player, because he’s not an NRL player now, he’s got a release.
“I’m not sure where that leaves him. The NRL doesn’t have jurisdiction over him, because he’s not an NRL player, so I’m not sure where it leaves him.”
Former NRL player Beau Ryan described it as a “loophole”, saying: “He’s not leaving an NRL contract. He’s done nothing illegal.”
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Storm CEO Justin Rodski admitted on Thursday afternoon that Papenhuyzen had spoken to R360 officials. However Rodski revealed the 27-year-old is weighing up whether he wants to keep playing professional sport at all considering some recent concussions and serious injuries.