It will be a big few weeks for Ryan Papenhuyzen given that the Storm are now privately conceding their superstar fullback will test his worth on the open market.
The Storm have been in negotiations with Papenhuyzen for several weeks and remain hopeful of keeping him, but the harsh reality is they are offering him less money than his current contract to stay.
Papenhuyzen could turn around in an instant and re-sign – especially after this appears – but all the signs are that he wants to know what he’s worth.
I have been told by sources with knowledge of the situation that his current deal with endorsements thrown in is worth about $1.1 million for next year.
The Storm are keen to get him for about $750,000 on their salary cap in his next deal, but Papenhuyzen, who is highly marketable as well as being a huge talent on the field, could earn close to $200,000 extra in endorsements on top of his regular wage. Regardless, it would be a pay cut.
The Storm hold Papenhuyzen in the highest regard, not just for his playing ability and courage in the way he has returned from injury, but also for his leadership. Those qualities make him attractive to clubs who are either approaching a premiership window or are in a rebuilding phase. He is a Sydney boy and would have appeal to any of the big Sydney teams.
Storm star Ryan Papenhuyzen.Credit: Getty Images
Parramatta have added depth to their fullback stocks as they prepare for the departure of Clint Gutherson. He can stay at Parramatta if he chooses, but I have been told the Dragons are willing to go in hard for him with a three-year contract.
Whether Gutherson wants to leave Parramatta for the Dragons is another story. The Dragons are building, but not all the noises are positive coming out of the club.
Papenhuyzen would be an interesting option for Parramatta or St George, but lurking on the outside are the Bulldogs, who are becoming a more attractive option as the club rebuilds. The Bulldogs do have a good option at fullback in Connor Tracey. He also has utility value, which means he can play a range of positions if Papenhuyzen became a real option at Belmore.
Marked Mam
The Bulldogs’ handing Josh Addo-Carr a breach notice, and his inevitable sacking, have put Brisbane’s management in the spotlight, and if Ezra Mam’s allegedly positive drug test result is confirmed, anything less than his dismissal will be seen as weak leadership.
A range of officials throughout the game have contacted this column to say the code has gone soft on illegal drug use, and clubs are hiding behind that.
The NRL took action against Addo-Carr, suspending him for four matches and fining him $15,000 after he accepted a $682 fine and a three-month suspension from driving after testing positive to cocaine on September 6.
Mam’s future remains in limbo after the car he was driving was involved in a head-on collision on October 18. He allegedly failed a roadside drug test and was also allegedly driving while unlicensed.
Mam was taken to hospital after colliding with an Uber carrying three people, who also suffered injuries. Police are awaiting the results of a second test using blood samples. Mam has not been charged.
Embattled Broncos player Ezra Mam.Credit: Getty Images
The Bulldogs have shown backbone in their treatment of Addo-Carr. He was made aware from the start that he was going to be shown the door, but they wanted him to land a job to avoid the embarrassment of being sacked. But their patience has run out and the Bulldogs moved to terminate his contract on Friday by issuing the winger with a show-cause notice. He is expected to front the club’s board on Thursday.
The Mam situation will be far worse if the drug result is confirmed. Even if the Broncos opted not to sack Mam, his driving incident is poised to cost the star more than $500,000. And it should cost him a year out of the game if the bosses of the Broncos and the NRL read the situation correctly. They can’t hide behind past “similar” instances, as few, if any, players have actually injured members of the public.
The Addo-Carr example, where he got off with a light penalty, can’t be the standard by which Mam would be judged. Because he was allegedly driving without a licence, Mam will, if charged and found guilty, obviously have to pay for the repair costs for both vehicles.
He will also have costs related to the injuries that those he crashed into suffered. He also faces the potential of civil action. Then there would be a $50,000 fine waiting for him from the NRL, and the Broncos would be within their rights to fine him up to a quarter of his $900,000-a-year salary. It all adds up for Mam.
Mam’s decision to check into rehab, while a good first step, is textbook when you are in strife and have no other option.
What we don’t want to hear from Mam, or anyone attached to the Broncos, is that in some way his alleged behaviour is related to Spencer Leniu. That would be an excuse that would be totally unacceptable at a time when a young child suffered a serious injury as a result of Mam’s actions. The rugby league world got behind Mam when he went through a difficult period after Leniu racially vilified him in Las Vegas. No one will understand the impact Leniu’s abuse had on Mam, but this is not about Mam and his feelings.
I’ve been told Mam has been training at a Brisbane gym with forward Kobe Hetherington. I have seen a photo of that and can only assume it is part of his rehabilitation. I can’t confirm if the picture is current because under-fire chief executive Dave Donaghy is not returning calls.
Suaalii sets high standards
Joseph Suaalii has had an immediate impact on the Wallabies playing group. I have spoken to people around the set-up who say players are having to lift their standards to match what Suaalii is doing on the training paddock.
His approach to training is highly professional and the intensity with which he does things even impressed those at the Roosters. From a young age, Suaalii was the first to arrive at Roosters training, often getting there to meditate and work on visualising what was ahead of him.
Joseph Suaalii chatting to coach Joe Schmidt in camp with the Wallabies.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
The suggestion that players are angry with him because of his mammoth $8 million, five-year contract does not appear to be true so far, as he is impressing everyone.
Shirt off their back
What is it about Broncos coaches and their sponsored polo shirts? Kevin Walters had to buy his own on his first day on the job. Michael Maguire fronted the media on his first day on the job on Wednesday wearing a blue T-shirt, rather than official club gear.
Still in the Hunt
Ben Hunt is having his reputation questioned by some at the Dragons, but he is still highly regarded by those in the Kangaroos set-up. Hunt is viewed as the ultimate team man, and even though he didn’t have his best season, Australia coach Mal Meninga knew of his qualities and made sure he was in the squad. As we told you last week, the Bulldogs, while having previously been interested in Hunt, have moved on to other players.
No holiday for Gus
Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould gets plenty of criticism, but he’s a great ambassador for rugby league. Not only is he constantly generating headlines and stories in his role as the heavy hitter of the Channel Nine commentary team, he is also spreading the word about the game he loves.
Gould helped establish The Kikau Academy in Fiji last year and is now working on a relationship between the Fiji Silktails and the Bulldogs. In a whirlwind trip to the islands he did that deal, visited the Kikau family and appeared on local TV. All while managing the many issues the Bulldogs are dealing with.
Clarke’s off-field work
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke is often the target of tabloid media and paparazzi, but what isn’t as well known is the work he does behind the scenes for current sports stars.
Clarke reached out to Sharks star Nicho Hynes when he was going through a difficult time.
Cronulla’s Nicho Hynes.Credit: Getty
More recently, he called a young female cricketer to offer her encouragement. Shevani Mehta showed the effects: she scored 166 not out playing third division against men. “He’s such a legend,” she said. “He was so genuinely trying to help me. He gave me specific tips that would help me.”
Messy restructure
There is a lot going on at Manly as part of Tony Mestrov’s restructure, most significantly the shifting of John Bonasera out of the head of football role.
He survived the club’s rainbow jumper scandal and the departure of former coach Des Hasler, but he is being moved to a welfare role. Peter Gentle takes over as head of football. There was a lot said about David O’Donnell resigning as head of pathways, but three weeks later he is back in the role.
The reaction to the restructure is worth keeping an eye on, as is the overall influence that manager Isaac Moses has on the club.
Risky business
A leading player is taking a risk by continuing to break the law, and people in the game are aware of his risky behaviour. If it continues, and he is caught, forget football for the foreseeable future.
The Pacific Championships is Live and free on Channel 9 & 9Now.