{"id":251321,"date":"2025-10-30T17:06:20","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T17:06:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/251321\/"},"modified":"2025-10-30T17:06:20","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T17:06:20","slug":"where-will-ryan-papenhuyzen-sign-after-melbourne-storm-exit-r360-contract-salary-cap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/251321\/","title":{"rendered":"Where will Ryan Papenhuyzen sign after Melbourne Storm exit, R360, contract, salary cap"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Melbourne Storm are suddenly on the lookout for a new fullback after confirmation Ryan Papenhuyzen had been granted an immediate release from his contract<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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While there is a clear replacement in waiting at the club already, with Sua Fa\u2019alogo contracted until the end of the 2028 season, it is still a major change considering Papehuyzen had established himself as a foundational piece in Melbourne since making his NRL debut in 2019. <\/p>\n

Here, foxsports.com.au looks at the burning questions to come out of Thursday\u2019s big development, from what it means for both Papenhuyzen and Melbourne to where he could land in 2026. <\/p>\n

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WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR PAPENHUYZEN?<\/p>\n

For now, Papenhuyzen\u2019s immediate playing future is up in the air after Melbourne said in its statement that he would \u201ctake a break from the game\u201d to \u201cconsider his future\u201d.<\/p>\n

Papenhuyzen had been heavily linked to R360 ever since late July, when he reportedly met with high-profile figures behind the breakaway rugby competition in Melbourne.<\/p>\n

While Papenhuyzen could also sign a contract with an NRL rival, it is hard to see there being many better situations out there than the one he was in at Melbourne.<\/p>\n

After all, he had a chance of winning another premiership given the Storm had maintained the core playing group that has now made back-to-back grand final appearances.<\/p>\n

Speaking to <\/a>foxsports.com.au <\/a>in February<\/a> ahead of the new season, Papenhuyzen said being around the same playing group would \u201cdefinitely\u201d play a role in his future contract call.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a big driver for me, we have a good group that believes in growth. If we can keep that group together, we all want to chase the same goals, then why not,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

However, Papenhuyzen also explained that he had to question his motivation for playing rugby league in the first place before deciding to stay with the Storm and decline rival offers.<\/p>\n

In the end, again, he came to the conclusion that trying to taste premiership glory with his long-time Melbourne teammates was front of mind. <\/p>\n

\u201cI want to be in Melbourne and I want to play for the Storm,\u201d he said at the time. <\/p>\n

\u201cAt the end of the day that was it, I had to sit back and reflect on what I really wanted to do.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter experiencing a premiership in 2020, you just want to chase that feeling again and do it with the group you\u2019ve worked so hard with.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, you could go and win premierships at other clubs. But you\u2019ve put in all those tough years, it\u2019s seven or eight years I\u2019ve been down here in Melbourne.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryan Papenhuyzen is leaving the Storm. Pictures: Adam HeadSource: News Corp Australia<\/p>\n

As for what could have changed that mindset Papenhuyzen had at the start of the year, outside of links to the R360 league, there weren\u2019t any other factors that had his immediate future at Melbourne in doubt.<\/p>\n

However, a cryptic social media post earlier in the month hinted a decision could be coming. <\/p>\n

\u201cReal peace is an inside job,\u201d Papenhuyzen posted to Instagram.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt comes from one quiet truth: You gave it everything you had. That\u2019s always a victory.\u201d<\/p>\n

Should Papenhuyzen end up with R360, it will be interesting to see if the floodgates open despite the NRL\u2019s threats of 10-year bans.<\/p>\n

Other NRL stars who have been linked to R360, or at least as players of interest for the competition\u2019s organisers, are Zac Lomax, Payne Haas, Jye Gray, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Will Kennedy, Dom Young, Josh Addo-Carr, Reece Walsh, Nathan Cleary, Xavier Coates and Deine Mariner.<\/p>\n

Bunnies officially sign David Fifita | 01:19<\/p>\n

COULD HE END UP AT ANOTHER NRL CLUB?<\/p>\n

While Papenhuyzen has been widely linked to the rebel R360, is it possible the fullback assesses his options closer to home and stays in the NRL.<\/p>\n

If that is the case, it\u2019s somewhat risky on Papenhuyzen\u2019s part as no other position group is as set around the league as fullback is.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a golden ear for the No.1s in the NRL with nearly each team possessing a stud fullback.<\/p>\n

If Papenhuyzen does consider staying in the NRL, teams like the Sharks, Bulldogs, Warriors and even the incoming Perth Bears could come calling.<\/p>\n

Those are four teams he\u2019d be a walk-up starter in.<\/p>\n

There are a handful of other clubs though who might be looking to upgrade at the position.<\/p>\n

These include the Dragons, who have an aging Clint Gutherson at the back.<\/p>\n

The Cowboys may present themselves as an option. While Scott Drinkwater is brilliant in attack, too often defence lets him down and while that would still obviously be even more of an issue defending in the front-line, he could move to five-eighth and shift Tom Dearden to halfback to accommodate such a move.<\/p>\n

The Tigers, meanwhile, may also be looking for a fullback if the rumours around Jahream Bula\u2019s potential exit next year come to fruition.<\/p>\n

Where could Papenhuyzen end up? (Photo by Cameron Spencer\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n

WHAT HAPPENS AT MELBOURNE NOW?<\/p>\n

A player of Papenhuyzen\u2019s ilk leaving the club is a huge loss no matter which way you look at it\u2026 but it\u2019s not like the Storm don\u2019t have options.<\/p>\n

The exciting Sua Fa\u2019alogo has been waiting in the wings for a consistent opportunity at fullback, which is his preferred position, and is the biggest winner of Thursday\u2019s news.<\/p>\n

In a season cut short by injury, he played in just seven NRL games, starting on the wing in six of them.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s been so electric when he\u2019s been at the back for the Storm in the past, but has been stuck behind Papenhuyzen.<\/p>\n

Nick Meaney is another option at fullback for Craig Bellamy, although to accommodate Fa\u2019alogo, you\u2019d think Craig Bellamy will keep Meaney at right centre.<\/p>\n

While the Storm are likely content with who they have on their books to replace Papenhuyzen in 2026, there is a chance that they are big players in free agency post the November 1 deadline.<\/p>\n

After all, not only do they now have Papenhuyzen\u2019s money to work with but they also recently released forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona.<\/p>\n

Reynolds undecided on playing future | 01:06<\/p>\n

Cowboys star Jaxon Purdue has been one player linked to the Storm.<\/p>\n

The versatile Purdue can play a range of positions but burst onto the NRL scene in the centres.<\/p>\n

However, his best position might end up being fullback according to his agent Sam Ayoub.<\/p>\n

He has represented Queensland under 19s wearing the Maroons\u2019 No. 1 jersey.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe wants to play wherever the coach plays him. He\u2019s played fullback, centres, in the halves… He\u2019s potentially an outstanding fullback,\u201d Ayoub said.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Gold Coast Titans captain Tino Fa\u2019asuamaleaui is also set to test the open market and had been linked with a potential return to Melbourne. <\/p>\n

\u201cI love the Titans and I want to win there and change the club, but an NRL career is short. As much as my heart is on the Coast, you\u2019ve got to be smart too and use your brain,\u201d Fa\u2019asuamaleaui told CODE Sports<\/a>.<\/p>\n

With the Gold Coast not looking any closer to contending for a title, a Storm reunion would appeal and now Melbourne has more money to throw at Fa\u2019asuamaleaui.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Melbourne Storm are suddenly on the lookout for a new fullback after confirmation Ryan Papenhuyzen had been…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":251322,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[568],"tags":[64,63,761,762,158,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-251321","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nrl","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-national-rugby-league","11":"tag-nationalrugbyleague","12":"tag-nrl","13":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/251321","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=251321"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/251321\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/251322"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=251321"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=251321"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=251321"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}