Ryan Papenhyuzen is now expected to re-sign with the Melbourne Storm, with the live-wire fullback squaring up a meeting between his agent Clinton Schifcofske and club powerbrokers late this week.
There were some whispers the Parramatta Eels had informally reached out to Papenhuyzen, 26, to gauge his interest, but that seems to have fallen through recently.
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By this weekend, The Sporting Base understands, the Storm and their fullback should have settled on a middle ground for the extension. How long Papenhuyzen is looking to stay at the club isn’t quite clear yet, though talks from player circles suggested he wants to add at least three more years to his deal. He’s already signed to 2025.
There’s every chance the Storm come back with a counter-offer that includes lower coin; the 26-year-old is on $800,000 a season right now but has struggled to play after two huge and brutal injuries in as many campaigns.
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While the Melbourne bosses rate “Pappy” very highly, there are worries about the pay.
It’s unlikely Papenhuyzen’s agent would kick up too much of a fuss if the offered extension saw that $800,000 a year drop closer to $600,000 for 2026, 2027, and 2028.
#NRL whispers 🟣🌩 Ryan Papenhuyzen looks set to extend with @Storm, with his agent to meet with club tomorrow to finalise deal. How long not clear yet, but both parties keen pic.twitter.com/uoaxksnTjY
— The Sporting Base – NRL (@BaseNrl) August 8, 2024
No matter the nitty gritty—which should all be solved by week’s end—it’s clear both parties are eager to get the deal done; Pappy and the Storm both see Papenhuyzen staying down south.
“We hope to have something done soon,” Melbourne Storm owner Matt Tripp told the Sydney Morning Herald today. “Discussions are just starting, but when both parties are keen, you usually get there. Hopefully, it’s days and not months.”
On Pappy’s importance to the club, the Storm head honcho said: “He’s critical to us. He’s a barometer. When he’s on the park and playing, we win games, and that’s not lost on me. He had bad luck and a run with injuries, but we’re a much better team when he’s on the park and he can be influential as any player in the competition.”
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This extension, if it does end up being three years, would set up a shootout for the number one with young gun Sua Fa’alogo, who is also inked with the Storm through to the same NRL season.
