Origin 2020: NSW coach Brad Fittler questions Wests Tigers treatment of Ryan Papenhuyzen
NSW Origin coach Brad Fittler reckons somebody at Wests Tigers has a lot of explaining to do after club reject Ryan Papenhuyzen won the Clive Churchill Medal in Sunday’s grand final.
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Brad Fittler says a decision by Wests Tigers officials to release Ryan Papenhuyzen “was just wrong”, revealing the new Clive Churchill medallist’s potential was obvious from his early teens.
After a breakout season with 2020 premiers Melbourne, Papenhuyzen is one of three old Tigers players set to appear at a NSW training session on Thursday — joining Roosters poster boy James Tedesco and fellow Storm premiership star Josh Addo-Carr.
With Tedesco being given until Saturday to overcome a left knee injury, Fittler could potentially give the Blues No.1 jersey to the 22-year-old flyer let go by the joint-venture club in 2017.
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Not that Tigers fans need reminding, but Addo-Carr was also released the same year to join Storm while Tedesco quit the following season for what has since been more than a little success at Bondi Junction.
All three will be on deck for the Blues during a Thursday training session on the Central Coast, however Tedesco may still workout separately from the main group.
Quizzed on Papenhuyzen’s breakout season in 2020, Fittler revealed he had been watching the Kellyville product since joining the NSWRL Pathways system while still in high school.
“I’ve seen Ryan since he was a kid,” the coach said.
“We’ve had him in (NSW) under-16s, under-18s, all the way through.
“So I was disillusioned when Wests Tigers couldn’t find a spot for him.
“And there were a few (players) there where, whatever they did through that period, it was just wrong.
“Someone got it wrong – whoever it was – and I don’t care.
“He’s been awesome.
“Before the grand final I asked ‘mate, how are you going to get your speed in with it being so wet’.
“And he just said ‘I’ll find a way’.
“And when he took off for that try (in the 45th minute) … yeah, he found a way.”
Elsewhere, Papenhuyzen also has a fan in Tedesco.
Asked if he felt for those Wests Tigers fans who watched the Storm No.1 collect Sunday night’s Clive Churchill medal, Tedesco laughed: “I think that’s happened a lot.
“Josh Addo-Carr has also won a few premierships. But what can you do?
“Papz was awesome in that game.
“Busy early, safe – which is what a fullback needs to be in big games — and took his opportunities when they came.
“He’s only young and already has a grand final and Churchill medal, so it’s good way to start your career.”
Should Tedesco fail to prove his fitness by Saturday, Fittler will have to choose between Papenhuyzen and Dally M Fullback of the Year Clint Gutherson.
But as for the NSW incumbent himself would choose?
“Dunno,” Tedesco conceded.
“Gutho has had an awesome year and is doing most of the fullback stuff in camp at the moment without Papz here.
“But he (Papenhuyzen) is coming off a high, too. And Gutho can play anywhere.
“Centres, off the bench, they could both be in the team.”
Only minutes into the second half of Sunday’s decider, Papenhuyzen effectively sealed the win when he split the Penrith defence and raced away upfield to score.
So any chance, in that same situation, Teddy could have turned, chased and run down the Storm livewire?
“Oh, he’d burn me for sure,” the Roosters fullback conceded.
“At the time even Gutho said ‘I wish I had that speed’.
“That natural speed which just breaks games open games like that.
“There’s not much you can do.”
Originally published as Origin 2020: NSW coach Brad Fittler questions Wests Tigers treatment of Ryan Papenhuyzen