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Papenhuyzen quits Storm as R360 rumours swirl
Scott Bailey, AAP • October 30th, 2025 12:25 pm
Photo: Joel Carrett/Photosport
Ryan Papenhuyzen's time at Melbourne is over and his future in the NRL clouded, after the superstar fullback quit the Storm to consider the next part of his career.
The Storm confirmed on Thursday that Papenhuyzen had been released, ending a nine-year stint at the club where he rose to be one of the NRL's best players.
Papenhuyzen had been contracted with the Storm until the end of next season, but has been mooted as one of the prime targets for breakaway rugby competition R360.
Ryan Papenhuyzen won the Clive Churchill Medal in the Storm's 2020 premiership | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
In a statement, the Storm confirmed Papenhuyzen's decision to "take a break from the game" was due to him wanting to "consider his future".
"I want to thank the club for their understanding and support throughout this process," Papenhuyzen said.
"I also want to thank my teammates, coaches and staff for all their love and support, it's been a privilege playing footy and working with you.
"I've loved my time at Melbourne Storm. I've enjoyed close to a decade of incredible memories and experiences in the purple jersey."
After debuting with Melbourne in 2019, Papenhuyzen won the Clive Churchill Medal in the club's premiership success the following season.
But he has been set back by injuries in the years that followed, before returning to the field more regularly for the past two seasons and helping the Storm to two grand finals.
Both of those deciders ended in defeat, with Papenhuyzen enduring a tough second half in the Storm's 26-22 loss to Brisbane this month.
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"Ryan has shown great character and resilience throughout his time at our club, and we've loved watching him develop into the player and person that he is today," Storm chairman Matt Tripp said.
"We're obviously disappointed that his time at Storm has come to an end, but we respect his decision to take some time away from professional sport."
Papenhuyzen has freely admitted that his management have held talks with R360, with the lucrative rugby competition aiming to get off the ground next year.
That came before the NRL vowed to impose 10-year bans on any player who left the sport to join the rebel competition, while also threatening similar bans for their managers.
Papenhuyzen played rugby at school while growing up, and the lure of a big financial pay-day could be appealing given the 27-year-old's wretched run with injuries.
If he was to stay in the NRL, Canterbury were one club who made a heavy play for Papenhuyzen when he was a free agent last season.
Whether the Bulldogs would have the room in their salary cap to make a similar pitch remains to be seen, after signing Lachlan Galvin from Wests Tigers.
Papenhuyzen's exit means Melbourne will have significant salary-cap space, with Nelson Asofa-Solomona released this month and also linked with rugby.
Tino Fa'asuamaleaui could be one big-money target to return to the club, with the Gold Coast prop able to be approached from November 1 due to options in his contract with the Titans.
The Storm are expected to announce a new deal for Harry Grant soon, while Cameron Munster is off contract at the end of 2027 and sure to command interest.
Melbourne do have Sua Fa'alogo available to play fullback, while the club have also been linked with a play for rising North Queensland star Jaxon Purdue.
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