Ryan Papenhuyzen has quit the Melbourne Storm, with the superstar fullback to take a break and consider his future in the NRL.
The Storm confirmed on Thursday that Papenhuyzen had been released, ending a nine-year stint at the club where he rose to be one of the NRL’s best players.
Papenhuyzen had been contracted with the Storm until the end of next season, but has attracted interested from breakaway rugby competition R360.
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.
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”.
“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.
Ryan Papenhuyzen celebrates with teammates. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
“I’ve loved my time at Melbourne Storm. I’ve enjoyed close to a decade of incredible memories and experiences in the purple jersey.”
After debuting with Melbourne in 2019, Papenhuyzen won the Clive Churchill Medal in the club’s premiership success the following season.
But he has been set back by injuries in the years that followed, before returning to the field more regularly for the past two seasons and helping the Storm to two grand finals.
Both of those matches have ended in defeat, with Papenhuyzen enduring a tough second half in the Storm’s 26-22 loss to Brisbane earlier this month.
“Ryan has shown great character and resilience throughout his time at our club, and we’ve loved watching him develop into the player and person that he is today,” Storm chairman Matt Tripp said.
“We’re obviously disappointed that his time at Storm has come to an end, but we respect his decision to take some time away from professional sport.”
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
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