Monday Buzz: 16 clubs rejected NRL’s most exciting young gun

Melbourne Storm were prepared to pay $80,000 of boom fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen’s contract if a rival club threw in $150,000 for his services … but no other side wanted him.

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The NRL’s most exciting young player was rejected by all 16 NRL clubs at the beginning of the year.

Boom fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen was almost squeezed out of Melbourne Storm because of salary cap pressure … but no other club wanted him.

The Storm were even prepared to pay $80,000 of his $230,000 contract if a rival club threw in $150,000 for his services.

The Billy Slater-like fullback was offered to rival clubs at the same time the Storm were trying to offload centre Cheyse Blair and front-rower Sam Kasiano to leave enough money in the cap to register skipper Cameron Smith’s contract with the NRL.

Yet no one recognised his potential, even as such a cut-price bargain.

MORE: Papenhuyzen’s gift for extraordinary comes from persistence

Ryan Papenhuyzen was almost squeezed out of Melbourne Storm. Picture: AAP

Storm officials couldn’t get a bite, not even from the Cowboys, who had just lost their fullback Ben Barba.

The dashing 20-year-old has burst on to the scene in recent weeks with sensational performances against his old club the Wests Tigers and the Parramatta Eels in Magic Round.

The blinding acceleration and blistering speed he showed to score a try on Friday night at AAMI Park reminded fans of Slater.

Papenhuyzen now has 18 months to run on his Melbourne Storm contract.

Almost overnight he has become a $500,000 player.

Ryan Papenhuyzen has been sensational over the past fortnight for Melbourne Storm. Picture: Getty Images

The Wests Tigers reject was originally rated number three fullback at the Storm behind Jahrome Hughes and Scott Drinkwater in the battle to win Slater’s No.1 jersey.

Which is why the Storm threw his name around to rival clubs.

Injuries to Drinkwater and Hughes gave the 80kg speed machine his opportunity.

He has been so impressive that Drinkwater is now talking about looking for opportunities at Sydney clubs and Hughes is likely to move to halfback to keep Papenhuyzen at fullback.