Ryan Papenhuyzen

Early Life

Papenhuyzen was born on 1 June 1998 in Ōtara, New Zealand, but grew up in Kellyville, Sydney, Australia. He played his junior rugby league for the Kellyville Bushrangers and subsequently progressed through the junior systems of the Balmain Tigers (now Wests Tigers). He attended Oakhill College, where he excelled in rugby league.

Playing Career

Junior and NYC Career

Papenhuyzen played for the Balmain Tigers in the SG Ball Cup before joining the Wests Tigers' National Youth Competition (NYC) team in 2016. He played fullback for the Tigers' NYC team in 2017, where his impressive performances caught the attention of NRL scouts.

Melbourne Storm (2018-Present)

In 2018, Papenhuyzen signed with the Melbourne Storm. He initially played for the Storm's feeder club, the Sunshine Coast Falcons, in the Queensland Cup.

• 2019 Debut Season: Papenhuyzen made his NRL debut for the Melbourne Storm in Round 4 of the 2019 NRL season against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. He quickly cemented his spot in the team, primarily coming off the interchange bench as a utility player, before eventually claiming the starting fullback role later in the season. He scored 9 tries in 20 appearances and was instrumental in the Storm's minor premiership win.
• 2020 Premiership Season: Papenhuyzen had a breakout season in 2020, becoming a key attacking weapon for the Storm. He played a crucial role in the Storm's Premiership victory, scoring a try and winning the Clive Churchill Medal for his man-of-the-match performance in the Grand Final against the Penrith Panthers.
• 2021 Season: He continued his strong form, scoring 7 tries in 11 games before suffering a significant concussion injury that sidelined him for a substantial part of the season.
• 2022 Season: After a strong start to the year, Papenhuyzen suffered a season-ending patella fracture in Round 18 against the Canberra Raiders, curtailing his campaign.
• 2023 Season: His return from injury was highly anticipated but short-lived. After just three games, he fractured his kneecap on the opposite leg to his 2022 injury, ruling him out for the remainder of the season.
• 2024 Season: Made a successful return to the NRL, demonstrating his resilience and regaining his form as a key player for the Melbourne Storm.

Representative Career

• New South Wales (State of Origin): Papenhuyzen made his State of Origin debut for New South Wales in Game 3 of the 2020 series. He has represented the Blues on multiple occasions, typically as an interchange player providing cover across the backline.
• Australia (Kangaroos): In 2022, Papenhuyzen was selected in the Australian Kangaroos squad for the Rugby League World Cup. While he did not feature in the final squad due to injury, his selection highlighted his standing as one of the game's elite players.

Playing Style

Papenhuyzen is renowned for his blistering speed, often capable of creating opportunities from broken play or making long-range breaks. He possesses excellent support play, a strong defensive game for a fullback, and a valuable kicking game. His tenacity and attacking flair make him a constant threat to opposition defences.

Achievements

Team

• NRL Premiership: 2020 (Melbourne Storm)
• Minor Premiership: 2019, 2020, 2021 (Melbourne Storm)

Individual

• Clive Churchill Medal: 2020
• Melbourne Storm Player of the Year (Billy Slater Medal): 2020