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Sport Nation
"Absolutely brilliant": NRL great responds to Storm re-signing Ryan Papenhuyzen
Sam Kosack • November 20th, 2024 6:20 pm
Ryan Papenhuyzen has reportedly signed a one-year extension with the Melbourne Storm, turning down the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs to remain loyal to the Victorian club.
Danny Weidler reported that the superstar fullback today inked the deal with Melbourne, after he opted to test his value on the market from November 1.
SEN’s Jimmy Smith reacted live to the breaking news, applauding the Storm for managing to re-sign Papenhuyzen.
“Absolutely brilliant from the Melbourne Storm in the way they’ve been able to play this out,” Smith said on Afternoons with Jimmy Smith.
“You’ve (Storm) got him for 2025 and now 2026 so they can see what his level of consistency is over the next 12 to 18 months, and that would determine how long the extension is if they choose to be in the market for him after that.
“They may be able to offer him top dollar after that because we know Jahrome Hughes and Harry Grant are off contract at the end of 2026.”
The Storm also have rising fullback Sua Fa’alogo waiting in the wings had Papenhuyzen chosen to move on.
Reports revealed that Fa’alogo had a verbal agreement with the club to talk to other clubs should Papenhuyzen resign, however, Smith believes that this new deal will allow Melbourne to keep both.
“One year is nothing,” Smith remarked.
“One year (means) they can say ‘Well, we've extended him but you are still our long term prospect’... one year is not too long to wait.
“They’ve been able to keep all their star players and they've kept them at the price they wanted.”
The Storm open their 2025 NRL season against the Parramatta Eels on Sunday, March 9.
