NRL Finals: Ryan Papenhuyzen reveals he was snubbed by the Eels for being too small
When Storm superstar Billy Slater retired at the end of 2018, he was considered irreplaceable. But such has been Ryan Papenhuyzen’s electric form, the void has not been as pronounced as first feared.
Eels
Don't miss out on the headlines from Eels. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Melbourne sensation Ryan Papenhuyzen admits he is being driven by the same criticism that made Johnathan Thurston an NRL champion - the claim he was too small to make it.
When Papenhuyzen confronts the Eels in Saturday’s qualifying final at Suncorp Stadium, it will bring back memories of the moment he was rejected by Parramatta scouts.
As a teenager, Papenhuyzen was a gun touch footballer. Growing up in Eels heartland at Kellyville, he represented NSW Combined Independent Schools in the national youth championships at Port Macquarie in 2012.
Kayo is your ticket to the 2020 NRL Telstra Premiership. Every game of every round Live & On-Demand with no-ad breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
NRL NEWS
Cordner responds to retirement concussion calls
Miracle Shark: Young star cleared of brain cancer
Lowball offer costs Tigers try-scoring freak
Three years later, at age 17, he played in the same Australian touch football side as current Queensland Origin star Kalyn Ponga.
But touch footy was one thing. In the tackle version, there was a view the slender Papenhuyzen had no chance of making it in a modern NRL era dominated by 100kg-plus backline monsters.
Look at him now. Just as Cowboys legend Thurston made Broncos scouts pay for rejecting him, Papenhuyzen has not forgotten the appraisal by an Eels scout that only steeled his desire to succeed in the NRL.
“That is what happened at Parra early on,” he recalls.
“I remember I was in a touch footy side and playing for Parra. One of the dads was friends with the (Parramatta) recruitment guy and he wanted them to pick me up, but their thing was that I was always too small.
“Although I made a couple of rep sides when I was a kid, there was still that doubt in my mind, when people tell you that you are too small.
“You’ve just got to keep adding to your skill-set and give it a crack and that’s something I’d like to show to all those little blokes out there that get told they are too small, that it’s not over and to just play tough.
“If you play tough there is no reason that they can’t pick you. Generally if you do that then you can make any side.”
Plucked from the Wests Tigers under-20s, Papenhuyzen’s rise at Melbourne is a tribute to the Storm’s ability to turn maligned talents into above-average performers.
Since his NRL debut last year, the 22-year-old has been a revelation. He has scored 16 tries from 39 games and represented Australia at last year’s World Nines on the back of his sizzling acceleration, fitness and constant involvement.
When Storm fullback legend Billy Slater retired at the end of 2018, he was considered irreplaceable.
But such has been Papenhuyzen’s electric form, the Slater void has not been as pronounced as first feared.
“Billy has been awesome and he teaches me so much still,” he said.
“He shares all his knowledge with me and the boys. He is willing to help everyone. That’s the attribute of a good coach.
“I‘ve learned to look for little things within games, watching defences and seeing if there is a common trait.
“Billy says that you have got to keep trying to evolve because there is always going to be someone trying to knock you off the platform.
“He was one of the greats of the game and started every year with something to improve.
“That is an inspiration for me.”