Ryan Papenhuyzen scored four tries as Melbourne Storm blitzed the Wests Tigers in record style

Melbourne Storm delivered the Wests Tigers a reality check as superstar fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen did something incredibly rare.

Ryan Papenhuyzen scorched his way to the top of the NRL try scoring list and burned his name in the brains of NSW selectors with a stunning four-try haul as Melbourne Storm flexed its considerable premiership muscle again in record-setting style.

A Magic Round spray from Storm coach Craig Bellamy stirred his troops into significant action with an 11-try demolition of the hapless Wests Tigers as Papenhuyzen gave Benji Marshall’s men a reality check.

The star Storm fullback had a double inside the opening 10 minutes and hat-trick before the 20 minute mark as part of a stunning six-try opening half and a 64-0 win on Mother’s Day in Melbourne.

It equalled Storm’s biggest-ever winning margin and was the third time in his career Papenhuyzen scored four tries in a game, taking his 2025 total to 12.

His 36 points was also most ever by a Storm player in a game, eclipsing the record set by Mark Geyer in 1999.

“You never expect that in a game,” Papenhuyzen told Fox Sports as he headed to the sheds before scoring his fourth after the break.

“You come to games with no expectation, play footy and we’re playing really good. I feel like we’ve done some stuff at training this week to get us up”

Ryan Papenhuyzen was scoring tries and kicking goals. (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)

Both teams had entered the contest on five wins for the season, the Tigers on the back of a stirring win and the Storm an ugly defeat.

Footage emerged of Bellamy giving his players a significant bake after their loss setting the scene for an almighty improvement and his was near faultless in the opening 40 minutes, not conceding a single penalty, while capitalising on every mistake the Tigers made.

There were plenty too, including a misplaced short line drop out, which was caught by Xavier Coates and resulted in Papenhuyzen’s third try.

Jarome Luai and the Tigers had no answer (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)

An Adam Douehli restart went dead and was marched all the way back up field for the Storm’s fifth try before Melbourne centre Nick Meaney scooped up a horror Tigers pass to run 70m to make the score 34-0 at the break.

It was the third time this season Storm has scored more than 30 points in the opening 40 minutes, going on to monster the stunned Tigers even more to end their premiership hopes.

No team in NRL history has conceded 50 points in a game and gone on to win the title.

BAFFLING TO BRILLIANT

Melbourne’s opening try could have been played with a Benny Hill soundtrack.

What looked a clunky end to a set, including a right-foot kick from Cameron Munster, couldn’t be killed by the Tigers as Storm went backwards and sideways, the ball even hitting the ground 15m behind where it started.

But that’s where Papenhuyzen grabbed it, and after two kicks, including one off the ground, outsprinted his rivals to begin a stunning surge.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona of the Storm scores a try (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)

THE NELSON EFFECT

Playing his first game since round 3, the local crowd gave giant prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona a rousing reception when he came on, which reached fever-pitch when he stormed to his team;s eighth try.

With every carry he sent Tigers tacklers backwards, and his inclusion was a significant boost for a team which once again flexed its premiership muscle.

TIGERS BLOW

A blowout result was bad enough but the Wests Tigers also left Melbourne with an injury issue after prop Fonua Pole injured his knee.

Pole didn’t get on the field in thee second half, instead sitting on the bench with his knee on ice.

STORM 64

Tries: Papenhuyzen 4, King, Hughes, Meaney, Asofa-Solomona, Katoa, Munster, Garlick

Goals: Papenhuyzen 10/11

WEST TIGERS 0

Originally published as Ryan Papenhuyzen scored four tries as Melbourne Storm blitzed the Wests Tigers in record style