Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy says four-try hero Ryan Papenhuyzen would deliver for NSW

After a stunning Sunday display having recovered from bad injuries in remarkable style Ryan Papenhuyzen is ready to go to the next level.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 11: Ryan Papenhuyzen of the Storm celebrates with teammates after scoring a try during the round 10 NRL match between Melbourne Storm and Wests Tigers at AAMI Park, on May 11, 2025, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy is adamant Ryan Papenhuyzen could deliver for NSW should selectors turn to him for a State of Origin debut revealing he marvels at the quality he’s produced, including a record-setting haul on Sunday, after “horrific” injury setbacks.

Papenhuyzen beat a club points scoring record and equalled an NRL record with his 36 points, including four tries, in Storm’s 64-0 thrashing the same mark set by Canberra’s Terry Campese in 2008.

While a run at fullback in the Blues would be a longshot, Papenhuyzen looms as a potential bench pick for coach Laurie Daley, able to fill a utility role which Bellamy said he could do “well”.

“That will be something for selectors to decide ... but you know he’s never going to let anyone down without doubt,” he said.

“There’s a lot of good fullbacks around, and there has been for the last 20 years in Origin.

“He’s in red hot form at the moment. So as I said, you know, if New South Wales decides to go that way, certainly he won’t let anyone down.

Ryan Papenhuyzen of the Storm celebrates after scoring a try (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)

“Whether you look at him in that (utility) role, you know, usually these days, that fourth bench player, you know, can play dummy half and a little bit in the halves as well.

“I think he could do that well if he had to.

“It’ll be up to the selectors on what they think. But as I said, you know, whatever role, if he did get picked, whatever role they like him to play he’s not going to let them down or let himself down.”

Bellamy said Papenhuyzen, who only played 15 games across the 2022 and 2023 seasons after suffering some “horrific” leg injuries, would have been “one hell of a player” if he wasn’t cut down so often.

He said the resilience of the 26-year-old continued to impress everyone at the club.

“When he come back, you know, after probably the last one, having that many serious injuries, I thought it’d be really hard for him to get back to what you know, we know he’s capable of,” Bellamy said.

“I thought some of those injuries would drag him back physically, but they don’t seem to have done that.

“He would have been one hell of a player who if he hadn’t got injured,

“He had some horrific injuries, and, you know, a lot in a short amount of time and to come back, how he has and to play you know, at the standard that he’s played, it’s, it’s been pretty remarkable.

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“I don’t think I’ve seen anyone in my time the game, as a player or a coach, have that many bad injuries and still be able to play it at that level.

Bellamy said just being able to “run again” was a challenge given Papenhuyzen’s injuries.

“Just getting back, or getting over the injury, that’s a lot of work just here, besides the physical and the skill things you have to do to get back to playing NRL at that level.

“You know, just getting back to be able to run again. You know, to shoulders. You know, to pass again, to tackle again. You know, wherever it is like, that’s the hard part of it.

“And as I said, you know, the amount of serious injuries that he’s had, he’s done a remarkable job to get back to the level he’s got back to.”

Originally published as Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy says four-try hero Ryan Papenhuyzen would deliver for NSW