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Ryan Papenhuyzen is a freakish player – no doubt about that.
He’s a Storm talisman and arguably the best player currently in the game who hasn’t yet played a single game of Origin for his state. Not one.
I mean, just think of some of the bog average players who have represented NSW in recent years, and ask yourself whether they’re in the same five-star class as Ryan Papenhuyzen.
The unremarkable Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Kotoni Staggs, Tevita Pangai Junior, Tariq Sims, Clint Gutherson, Nathan Brown, Siosifa Talakai and Ryan Matterson have all worn the Blue jersey in recent years, while a cocktail of poorly timed injuries have conspired to leave Papenhuyzen watching Origin on the big screen.
A former Australian Schoolboy and NSW Under 20s representative, Papenhuyzen debuted off the bench for Melbourne in 2019 before establishing himself as their first-choice fullback later in the year when Jarome Hughes shifted from the number one jersey to halfback.
He then won a premiership with the Storm in 2020 and was adjudged as the best player in the grand-final, taking home the Clive Churchill Medal along with his premiership ring.
He had announced himself as a rapidly rising star who was clearly destined for representative honours.
Based on his stellar season, Papenhuyzen was named in the extended NSW squad for the Covid-impacted 2020 end-of-year Origin series before being forced to withdraw due to injury.
Happily, he then bounced back to his brilliant best the following year, scoring seven tries in the first six rounds of the competition and looking a very strong chance to make the NSW team.
It wasn’t to be, however, as he missed the entire 2021 Origin period due to concussion and was seriously injured again in 2022, not only missing a large part of that season but also every game but three in 2023.
As talented as he was, Ryan Papenhuyzen just couldn’t take a trick, and there were some real fears that the spate of injuries would bring his career to a premature end.
Even the Storm appeared pessimistic about Papenhuyzen’s chances of making a full recovery and had the talented young gun Sualauvi Fa’alogo waiting in the wings to take over at fullback if Papenhuyzen couldn’t make another successful comeback.
Ryan Papenhuyzen celebrates with teammates. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
But comeback he did, and 2024 saw Ryan Papenhuyzen once again start the season in fine form, scoring seven tries in the first eight games before missing half a dozen games across May and June with another leg injury,
This setback put paid to his chances of replacing the out of favour James Tedesco in the 2024 Origin series, before getting back on the field and finishing the season strongly as Melbourne made it all the way to the grand-final.
Papenhuyzen’s run of injuries is right up there with those of fellow star fullback Tom Trbojevic, who played just 50 games across the last four seasons compared to Turbo’s 56.
Fortunately for Turbo, though, the timing of his injuries has seen him somehow squeeze in five Origins for NSW and three tests for Australia, including a World Cup final, during that time, while Papenhuyzen’s injury timing has seen him miss every opportunity for higher honours.
The good news for Papenhuyzen is that 2025 has seen him continue his strong form from last year, presenting a constant attacking threat for the Storm and crossing for five tries in just four games.
He’s clearly back to his best.
2025 presents him with his best chance yet of representing the Blues as former NSW captain and fullback Tedesco is struggling to get out of second gear with the disappointing Roosters.
The incumbent custodian Dylan Edwards isn’t doing much better after returning from injury with the Panthers who have absolutely fallen off a cliff, while eligible fullbacks in Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell are most likely to be selected in the centres for NSW if available.
If Papenhuyzen can just stay fit and healthy, 2025 could be his year to shine for NSW.
Fingers crossed Pappy, as Queensland won’t know what hit them.
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