Origin 2020: Ryan Papenhuyzen reveals crazy moment he won a premiership and lost the chance for a NSW Origin jersey

It may be the unluckiest of Origin omissions but if Blues hopeful Ryan Papenhuyzen had his grand final time all over again, he would have done the same thing.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 25: Ryan Papenhuyzen of the Storm is presented with the Clive Churchill Medal during the 2020 NRL Grand Final match between the Penrith Panthers and the Melbourne Storm at ANZ Stadium on October 25, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Ryan Papenhuyzen may be the first bloke to lose a NSW Origin jersey while airborne.

Or maybe the second.

Although with Melbourne forward Robbie Kearns, he didn’t so much lose his Blues gig when thrown from a horse named Apples as when he eventually landed back on planet earth — and broke a collarbone.

But this latest Storm injury?

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Ryan Papenhuyzen was outstanding in Sunday’s decider.

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According to Papenhuyzen, he has been ruled ineligible for Origin I after suffering a calf strain while making arguably the biggest play of the NRL Grand Final.

Specifically, when the eventual Clive Churchill medallist leapt up, out and over the sideline to swat a Nathan Cleary penalty kick back into play.

As far as big moments go, that leap with 13 minutes to play was a cracker.

But unfortunately for Papenhuyzen, it was more too.

Which is why if NSW fullback James Tedesco cannot get that troublesome knee right for the series opener in Adelaide, it won’t be the Storm No.1 who replaces him.

Again, because of whatever happened around that moment he went airborne.

Ryan Papenhuyzen gives Cameron Munster a hug after Storm won the decider.

Despite failing to train with the Blues on Thursday, Papenhuyzen still spoke afterwards about his unluckiest of Origin omissions.

Asked when the injury occurred, he referred back to Sunday’s grand final saying: “I feel like it was when I jumped out to hit that ball back in.

“I remember everything after that hurt, and I knew it didn’t feel right.

“I remember running not long after and thinking, ‘this isn’t normal’.

“But the whole adrenaline of the Grand Final kicked in. I knew I had to get to the end and then deal with whatever happened afterwards.”

Of course, the premiership winner admitted the past three days of celebrations had not exactly been “the best recovery method” for an injured calf, either.

Ryan Papenhuyzen showed off his speed to score a great try.

But as for being disappointed?

“It’s disappointing now,” he conceded.

“But if I didn’t do that, do we win a Grand Final?

“I have to look at it like that.

“Everything happens for a reason.”

So as for what provoked the leap on which, you could definitely argue, a premiership was won?

“I always think I’m a chance with those ones,” he continued.

“So I threw myself at it.

“Luckily enough, the ball bounced on its side. If it bounced any differently it could have been out.

“But I had this gut feel I could get there.

“Always do.

“You’ll always see me looking.

“And it probably helped that I was a little bit out of position because I was running that way and picked momentum and knocked in back in.

Ryan Papenhuyzen was overwhelmed after being presented with the Clive Churchill Medal.

“And if it means I miss an Origin game, it is what it is.

“I’ll have to keep playing good footy to give myself a chance to make it again or play game two or three.”

Meanwhile, Tedesco trained away from the main group again on Thursday and will be given until Saturday to prove his fitness.

He has been named in the Blues No.1 jersey by coach Brad Fittler.