NRL 2021: Ryan Papenhuyzen set for massive pay rise at Melbourne Storm

He was the star of last year’s NRL grand final and now Melbourne Storm are set to reward Ryan Papenhuyzen with a deal that will make him one of the game’s highest-paid players.

Ryan Papenhuyzen is in talks with Melbourne Storm on a new three to five-year deal worth $800,000 a season. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Melbourne has begun talks on a $2.5 million-plus mega deal for Ryan Papenhuyzen that will make the Clive Churchill medallist one of the highest-paid players in the NRL.

News Corp can reveal the Storm will ramp-up negotiations on a multi-year extension for Papenhuyzen as he prepares to launch his 2021 campaign against South Sydney at AAMI Park on Thursday night.

It is understood his management will meet with Melbourne bosses on the eve of the Souths clash to piece together a package that will rubber-stamp the 22-year-old as one of the Storm’s poster boys in the post-Cameron Smith era.

Watch The 2021 NRL Telstra Premiership Live & On-Demand with No Ad-Breaks During Play. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

Ryan Papenhuyzen will earn a major upgrade at the Storm.

The flying fullback is off-contract at season’s end but the Storm insist he is going nowhere and are making moves to extend Papenhuyzen for 2024 and beyond.

The Storm celebrated a major retention coup last week when they staved off a big-money poaching bid from the Warriors to secure premiership halfback Jahrome Hughes to a three-year deal.

Now Melbourne are locking in Papenhuyzen for the long haul.

Papenhuyzen has the hot hand after winning the Clive Churchill Medal in last year’s NRL grand final, prompting the Storm to look at a three-to-five year extension worth more than $800,000 annually.

The former Australian touch-football ace is open to a term of contract the suits the Storm’s salary-cap situation, but the multimillion-dollar upgrade will represent the biggest pay day of Papenhuyzen’s career.

The former Parramatta junior was not in the NRL’s top 100 salary earners last season but his new deal will catapult him into the code’s true elite.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Broncos fans can lock in their own reserved seat for all 12 home games from just $199 for adults. Get them here!

The imminent extension caps a remarkable career turnaround for Papenhuyzen, who was stuck behind James Tedesco at the Tigers and unwanted by the Cowboys when he was offered to the club following the sacking of Ben Barba two years ago.

Since then, Papenhuyzen has exploded onto the NRL scene, playing 42 games since the start of 2019 and igniting Melbourne’s surge to last year’s premiership with his pace, fitness, relentless work-rate and tackle-busting power.

The Storm have groomed Papenhuyzen since Billy Slater’s retirement at the end of 2018 and view him as a 10-year custodian with the leadership potential to be a future captain.

The NSW Origin hopeful could attract $1 million offers on the open market, but Melbourne will formalise a deal before Papenhuyzen officially becomes a free agent on November 1.

Storm pivot Cameron Munster said Papenhuyzen had become a critical member of Melbourne’s playmaking spine and deserved a bumper upgrade.

“I’m confident to say Paps can one of the superstars of the NRL,” Munster said.

“He is willing to learn, he is never complacent.

“It was his first full year as fullback for us and he won a premiership and won the Clive Churchill, so it shows he can be the next Billy Slater.

“Billy didn’t have the best passing game at the start of his career, but he worked on his game and became one of the best fullbacks the game has seen.

“He has a brilliant work ethic and that’s why he deserves whatever he can earn because he never stops wanting to learn and get better.

“‘Paps’ can be up there with James Tedesco in the next 10 years.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Ryan Papenhuyzen set for massive pay rise at Melbourne Storm