Ryan Papenhuyzen from go from full tilt to chilled out as a player matured from his 2020 grand final stunner

Four years after being best player in a grand final and with horror injuries behind Ryan Papenhuyzen is back to hs speedy best with a crucial new weapon in his arsenal.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 27: Ryan Papenhuyzen of the Storm scores a try during the NRL Preliminary Final match between the Melbourne Storm and Sydney Roosters at AAMI Park on September 27, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Top speed Ryan Papenhuyzen is back, slicing through defensive lines again, just like he did when he won the Clive Churchill medal in 2020, his coming-out performance, with full confidence in his body after two seasons of injury hell.

Remarking on Monday that the four years since that stunning turn, in just his 42nd NRL game, had “gone fast”, having endured myriad challenges, career-threatening ones too, Papenhuyzen has turned more philosophical about the game, and his place in it.

It’s why full tilt Papenhuyzen can also become his team’s Zen master, the cool head in a crisis, when some of his fellow leaders who he said can “wear their heart on their sleeve” need to be refocused.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy lauded Ryan Papenhuyzen’s new found role as the calming voice, and the superstar fullback has come at the opportunity with knowledge and perspective, ensuring he’s potentially better placed than he was in 202o for Sunday’s grand final showdown with Penrith

“I think the other boys in the spine are very instinctive players and wear their heart on their sleeve So I think that’s my role to just be a bit calm,” he said.

“I’ve always sort of been a calm person. I think that’s what sort of helped me through my injuries was reading a lot about psychology and leadership and where I can best implement myself.

Ryan Papenhuyzen celebrates one of two tries against the Roosters. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

“And in those scenarios you’ve got to look at the bigger picture and sometimes you get caught up in the emotions of the occasion and I feel like I’m really good at being able to wind back and look at the bigger picture and I guess put things in a different perspective.

“So yeah if that’s something I can bring to the team and they value, then I’ll keep doing it.”

Papenhuyzen said his teammates have found value in what he’s been saying, which is basically that he trusts them, and they should trust themselves.

“I’ve got so much trust in the side and just so much trust in our game plan, so yeah, I think it’s just reiterating that times during the game can get a bit hectic and emotions sort of rise, especially in these bigger games,” he said.

“You hope that’s infectious throughout the group. There’s definitely other guys in the squad who can do it, but yeah, I feel like I’ve had the chance to the last couple weeks, and everyone’s been buying in which you need.

“You know can be calm and whatever, but you need guys to listen. And our group’s a great group, and they generally listen to everything.”

Papenhuyzen spent months listening to specialists helping him rebuild his broken body, more than once, after horror lower-leg injuries which was “not an easy road”.

But as he speed past flailing Roosters defenders last Friday night to score two tries in an emphatic double, it was clear all that time spent working so hard was reaping the rewards he was looking for.

“Before that, I probably didn’t get too many opportunities to stretch out,” he said.

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“But yeah, on the weekend I did, so yeah, I was confident that I’d done all the work to get back to this level. And yeah, now I’m probably seeing the results of it, and just credit to our medical staff and the people around me have helped me get to this spot.

“I’s not an easy road, and there’s times where you definitely do doubt it, but yeah, to be able to show it on the big stage and just be ready for that moment, yeah, it’s sort of what all the hard work and sacrifice pays off for.

“I’ve hit top speeds at training. So it’s been there. It’s just trying to get those opportunities and games to get going.

“I feel mentally I’m in a better space and I’ve matured as a rugby league player so yeah I’d say in that aspect and physically yeah I feel every week I’m getting a lot more confident.”

Originally published as Ryan Papenhuyzen from go from full tilt to chilled out as a player matured from his 2020 grand final stunner