Ryan Papenhuyzen reveals why he rejected rival offers to re-sign with Melbourne Storm

In his first interview since re-signing with the Storm, Ryan Papenhuyzen opens up on his initial disappointment, and the unusual points that factored into his final decision.

He’s not your every day footballer, so he didn’t make an every day decision.

Ryan Papenhuyzen shunned big money and more security to take a gamble on himself with a one-year contract extension, keeping him at Melbourne until the end of 2026.

In his first exclusive interview since re-signing with the Storm, the star fullback revealed his initial disappointment at a reduced offer, his reasons for knocking back more lucrative deals, the stress of the NRL free market and why his next moves in podcasting factored into his final decision.

Among other opportunities, the 26-year-old rejected a long-term offer from Canterbury which would have brought him home to Sydney.

However, Papenhuyzen admitted he was never comfortable signing a lengthy deal and wanted the chance to prove his value after years of injury hardship.

Ryan Papenhuyzen has signed a one-year contract extension with Storm, keeping him in Melbourne until the end of 2026. Picture: Kurt Thomson,

“It resonated with me to extend to prove to myself and everyone else that I’m willing to risk some security in my career to actually improve myself and be a person focused on growth,” he says.

After losing the NRL grand final to Penrith in October, there is unfinished business in Melbourne.

“It’s funny, when you strip it all back, you want to win the premiership and that’s the goal, but we’re building in the right direction where I really want to be a part of that.

“It wouldn’t have felt right leaving and not seeing what we could have done and got our group to the full potential.”

Papenhuyzen has unfinished business in Melbourne, after going down in the 2024 grand final to the Panthers. Picture: Getty Images

REALITY CHECK

Papenhuyzen is one of the highest paid players at the Storm but has had a horror run of injuries over the past few years before turning it around to play 20 games in 2024.

Still, it stung when the initial offer from the club was a three-year deal with a significant pay reduction.

One of the game’s deep thinkers, Papenhuyzen took a marker to a whiteboard and wrote out his goals, beliefs and values to help him make a logical decision, rather than an emotional one.

“I remember hearing (the initial offer) and being a little bit disheartened by it, but understanding why,” he says.

“After sitting down and weighing it all up and seeing where I’m at physically and mentally and where the team’s at, it was the right decision (to stay at Storm).

“I didn’t want to take too long with it because I know teams plan in advance, but at the same time I wanted to make sure I was going to be confident with my decision and I could be comfortable with it.”

Papenhuyzen has struggled with injuries in recent years, playing just 12 games in 2022 and three games in 2023. Picture: Getty Images

FREE MARKET CIRCUS

In the meantime, media speculation about where he would sign, what he is worth to a club and whether his injury history makes him a worthwhile recruit ran rampant.

After six years at Melbourne this was his first time off contract, and the experience way eye-opening.

“It was interesting … to know there are actually teams out there who do want you and knowing there are guys to who get to a certain point in their career and don’t have those options,” he says.

“I’m grateful for that, but on the flip side, you get people questioning your abilities, questioning you, and they’re all entitled to their opinion, but it’s all out there, and there are stories written about those opinions and you can’t say too much because it ruins the situation, so that was the hard part.

“I have family up in Sydney who love their rugby league and follow all the media outlets and were messaging me going ‘what’s the go with this’.

“I feel bad for saying how difficult it is … but it does create a little bit of anxiety.”

He came off contract on November 1 for 2026, and a one-year deal means he could be in the same situation in 12 months.

“Most of the deals in front of me were long term and I didn’t feel comfortable signing a long-term deal, I just felt like I wanted to get my body back in a space where my teammates can trust me and they can see I’m genuine about getting my body back into the best shape possible,” he says.

“It was good for Matthew Tripp (Storm CEO) to sit down with me and talk about a one-year extension, which works both ways. If I’m playing good footy, then it’s adding value to the team and we can do something more than that, but if I’m not then they can go a different way, which I completely understood.

“I’ve still got two years in front of me so it’s just about knuckling down now and making sure we’re building on what we’ve built the last few years, we’ve set the foundation but it’s about how we can evolve from that.”

RETURN TO SYDNEY

Papenhuyzen grew up in Sydney and his family is still here, including his one-year old nephew Lenny.

As is the family of his partner Emma MacDonald.

There was obvious temptation to take the money on offer and come home, but he admits this decision was a selfish one.

“It wasn’t an easy decision,” he says.

“My sister just had a baby and I’m a first time uncle, so from that side of things I miss him growing up, and I never really understood that until she had Lenny. You get pulled in different directions but I think a lot of my success has been because I’m down here and being able to find myself.

“Yeah I don’t get to see them every week, and playing footy sometimes these are the things you have to sacrifice, but it’s worked for me so far.

Ryan Papenhuyzen with partner Emma Mac. Picture: Jason Edwards

“It definitely was tempting and I had to sit down and think about it, but I think it’s more of a selfish decision to stay down here and I know it’s the best environment for me to continue to grow as a player and a person.

“I’m in a position right now where I can be very selfish, and I obviously have a partner in Emma, but it’s very much about what we’re building (at Melbourne) and having a growth mindset around it.”

He hasn’t ruled out returning one day.

“Maybe, it just depends, I feel like I’m in a good flow down here and get lots of things done, so it makes it more special when I do go home.”

FULLBACK BATTLE

Papenhuyzen will again battle with rising gun Sua Faalogo for the fullback jersey.

There are reports of a handshake agreement between Faalogo and the club, where if Papenhuyzen signed long-term, he would be given permission to explore his options elsewhere.

The 21-year-old Samoan star signed a five-year deal with the Storm last year and is the club’s next fullback, but Papenhuyzen’s latest deal puts another hurdle in his way.

Teenage gun Hugo Peel is also rising the junior ranks at the club.

Rising fullback star Sualauvi Faalogo. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

Papenhuyzen is realistic enough to know he might be shifted somewhere else in the backline, or work hard enough to force Faalogo to wait even longer for the No.1 spot.

“There’s obviously competition, but I want them to make me better too,” he says.

“It’s healthy competition where I’ll go and help them with whatever they need, if they need extra tips on video I’d be the first person to jump up and do it and I think that’s mainly because of what I was exposed to when I first came (with Billy Slater). “It’s a good vibe and you generally want success for the club and if that’s what that requires, I’m more than willing to do that.”

PODCASTING

Staying in Melbourne gives him a chance to grow off the field too.

Papenhuyzen has thrown himself into a successful podcast Clubhouse with teammates Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes.

Through inside jokes and sometimes serious commentary, they also interview former and current teammates.

Next season the show will move under the Betoota Advocate’s podcast production arm, DM Media.

“It should be really fun. That was another growth decision,” he says.

“They have some really good podcasts and access to some great people so we thought, if we do want to grow it and take it seriously, we should do that.

“I still get a bit nervous over the guests, you just want their story to be told in the right way and I think that’s what listening to those other podcasts do really well, I take lots of lessons out of it.”

Diary of a CEO, The High Performance Podcast and the odd Joe Rogan interview are high on his rotations.

“We’ll try and get more guests on next year but it’s fun chatting other things apart from footy,” he says.

RATE THE PAPENHUYZEN RE-SIGNING

Storm have locked down the fourth member of the new Big Four, denying Sydney raiders – including the Bulldogs – in a massive coup for the premiership contender.

With a one-year extension Papenhuyzen has opted to shun contract security and big money to take a gamble on himself, believing his best chance to return to full fitness is in Melbourne.

And if not, he’ll be off-contract again come November 1 next year.

It’s a great retention for the club but may throw a spanner in the works for emerging fullback stars Sua Faalogo and rising gun Hugo Peel.

Originally published as Ryan Papenhuyzen reveals why he rejected rival offers to re-sign with Melbourne Storm