Ryan Papenhuyzen in telling swipe as Storm saga takes new turn

Ryan Papenhuyzen has addressed rumours he is being shopped around to a rival club, expressing his desire to make the doubters "eat their words". The Storm fullback says he knows his value and if Melbourne doesn't see that then that's their loss.

Papenhuyzen is a fan favourite at the Storm but has battled injuries in recent years, restricting him to just 30 games in three years. Melbourne has supported Papenhuyzen through his injury-riddled seasons and although he is expected to be available for the start of the 2024 season, his future at the club is in doubt.

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The fullback accepts that if Melbourne looked to move him on it would be just business but is something he would use as “motivation to come back and prove them wrong”. “I guess it’s someone at the club’s job to do, so no hard feelings there, I know my value at the club," Papenhuyzen told Fox Sports News Australia.

“I know what I have to offer and if they don’t see it then they don’t see that. But I know plenty of people who do. I’ve just got to keep doing what I need to do to get back and play and I’m confident when I do get back playing that those reports will go away.

"It’s only natural, it’s only business, obviously Sua has been playing good footy and Meaney played really well this year so it was inevitable to happen, but at the same time it gives you that motivation to come back and prove them wrong.”

Reports linking Papenhuyzen with a move away from the Storm comes on the back of the meteoric rise of young gun Sualauvi Faalogo, who is set for a significant contract upgrade after starring for Samoa in the recent Pacific Championship Test series. The Storm bosses are already working on at least doubling the budding fullback's pay as they intend on upgrading him into the club's top 30 for next season.

Papenhuyzen says Sua is a "pretty crazy talent" and although he believes the young star is a valuable asset, he believes he offers more. "He's worked hard all year and got his opportunity in that last round game. He showed what he could do," Papenhuyzen told AAP.

"He's a very, very respectful young kid. You like seeing those blokes do well. Hopefully, he doesn't go too well, I'd like my spot back. But at the same time, I think he could play his role and be a valuable asset to our 17 next year.

"Any competition's healthy, for me it gives you a bit more motivation, as long as you're confident within yourself with what you can bring to the team. I'm confident in myself and confident I can be number one and be the best fullback in the team. Now I've just got to prove it."

Scott Sattler believes letting Papenhuyzen leave makes sense

NRL legend Scott Sattler believes releasing Papenhuyzen could free up valuable salary cap space at the Storm, who are in desperate need of some reinforcements in the forward pack. Sattler on SEN 1170s 'The Run Home', said the Storm are about to enter a transition period under Craig Bellamy and parting ways with the fullback makes sense so they can invest the added salary cap space elsewhere.

"The way rugby league is now when you have a player that is on seven figures, it has the ability to free up a lot of money," Sattler said. "Because the Melbourne Storm are about to go into a really interesting phase in their history under Craig Bellamy."

"They've always been a top-four side and were so again this year but they're moving into an era where you're not quite sure where they're going to be. I thought their backrowers were underwhelming this year. They don't have any strike centres or two good wingers so are they thinking listen if we can sell Papi (Papenhuyzen) we can possibly have 700 to 800 thousand and we could buy two or three players for our future?"

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