Melbourne Storm’s $1.1m star to test open market amid pay cut fears

The Melbourne Storm have reportedly conceded one of their most marketable star players will test the open market amid fears of a pay cut.

Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen is set to hit the open market.

The Melbourne Storm are reportedly resigned to the fact Ryan Papenhuyzen will test himself on the open market.

The Storm’s star fullback is contracted to the end of 2025 but will become a free agent on November 1 if an agreement with the Storm isn’t reached by the deadline.

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Rugby league journalist Danny Weidler reports the Storm are still hoping to re-sign Papenhuyzen, but have conceded he will test the open market in hope of a more lucrative contract than the one on the table.

In his SMH column, Weidler said sources believe Papenhuyzen’s current deal is worth around $1.1 million for 2025 including endorsements.

The Storm reportedly want to pay Papenhuyzen $750,000 in his next deal, plus around $200,000 in endorsements, but it would still be a pay cut on his current contract.

Weidler noted Papenhuyzen is from Sydney and “would be an interesting option for Parramatta or St George”.

Ryan Papenhuyzen is set to hit the open market. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

The Eels have told veteran Clint Gutherson he is free to explore his options and are preparing for life without the 30-year-old fullback in 2026.

Papenhuyzen had a resurgent year for the Storm, scoring 13 tries and starring in Melbourne’s preliminary final win over the Sydney Roosters.

The 26-year-old is a marketer’s dream and played 20 games in a strong season bouncing back from injury.

Papenhuyzen is a key part of Melbourne’s spine that includes Harry Grant, Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster. He played in the Storm’s grand final loss to Penrith.

Papenhuyzen played in Melbourne’s 2020 premiership win and was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal in the Grand Final.

But the popular fullback has struggled to stay on the park consistently since then due to concussion in 2021, hamstring injuries and a fractured knee cap in 2022, before breaking his ankle in the qualifying final loss to the Broncos last year after missing most of the 2023 season.

Hit fitness in 2024 played a part in Melbourne finishing two games clear on top of the NRL ladder.

Ryan Papenhuyzen and partner Emma Mac at the Melbourne Storm player of the year awards. Picture: Jason Edwards

The fullback is one of Melbourne’s best players. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

It comes amid reports Papenhuyzen’s successor-in-waiting Sua Fa’alogo could leave the Storm.

Fa’alogo, 21, has shown flashes of brilliance and is contracted until the end of 2028, but would reportedly be allowed to leave if Papenhuyzen re-signs.

NRL reporter Michael Chammas told Triple M recently: “Matt Tripp, the Storm chairman, has a verbal undertaking with Sua Fa’alogo’s manager Liam Ayoub that if Ryan Papenhuyzen wants to extend his time, they will sit back down and look at his contract.

“Now, that is not a clause in his contract; it’s not in writing, so it will come down to whether Melbourne keep their word, but there are clubs circling Sua Fa’alogo.”

A loan deal, similar to the arrangement that saw Grant play for the Wests Tigers in 2020 before returning to the Storm, has previously been floated for Fa’alogo.