Ugly Ryan Papenhuyzen grand final detail emerges as $3 million update leaves Sua Fa'alogo in limbo

The Melbourne Storm have reportedly offered Ryan Papenhuyzen a whopping $1 million a season contract extension - leaving Sua Fa'alogo's future in doubt - as more details around his horror NRL grand final injury have come to light. Papenhuyzen was on the losing side in the NRL grand final with the Storm unable to stop Nathan Cleary and the Penrith Panthers achieving four straight premierships.

After the grand final it was confirmed Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes carried a back injury into the contest and won't feature for New Zealand against the Kangaroos. And not it appears Papenhuyzen was fortunate to play the NRL grand final having battled a minor fracture in his lower leg.

Papenhuyzen has suffered three horror fractures across the last three seasons for the Storm with a major knee and right ankle fracture seeing him miss the majority of the 2023 season. Papenhuyzen returned in 2024 and found his scintillating form again, but has endured numerous setbacks with his right ankle.

And it appears Papenhuyzen wasn't close to 100 per cent fit heading into the NRL grand final with the initial report of bone bruising a concern. However, the Storm have confirmed the fracture with Papenhuyzen needing pain killers to play the final.

Papenhuyzen did his best to ignite the attack against the relentless Penrith defence, but wasn't able to link up with Hughes or Harry Grant to change the game. The latest injury concerns comes as Papenhuyzen has reportedly been offered a $3 million deal for three years at the Storm, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Papenhuyzen contract leaves Sua Fa'alogo in doubt

Papenhuyzen has reportedly been offered a whopping contract extension with Melbourne to stay at the club. The 25-year-old is a fan favourite and one of the best fullbacks in the competition. And while the Storm admitted the deal wasn't the highest offer he might receive, it would keep him at his home in Melbourne.

However, if Papenhuyzen signs the three-year extension, it would leave sensational talent Fa'alogo in limbo. Earlier this year, Fa'alogo signed and extension with the Storm until the end of 2028.

The 21-year-old has dazzled at fullback or on the wing when given the chance this year and would be looking to lock down a position in the Storm 17. However, Tyran Wishart's insistence he will stay at Melbourne could see Craig Bellamy find it hard to get Fa'alogo in the 17.

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And reporter Michael Chammas has claimed there will be no shortage of rival clubs wanting to sign the fullback. Chammas claims the Storm have a verbal agreement with Fa’alogo that would allow him to seek footy elsewhere if they re-sign Papenhuyzen.

“Matt Tripp, the Storm chairman, has a verbal undertaking with Sua Fa’alogo’s manager Liam Ayoub that if Ryan Papenhuyzen wants to extend his time, they will sit back down and look at his contract,” Chammas told Triple M radio recently.

“Now, that is not a clause in his contract; it’s not in writing, so it will come down to whether Melbourne keep their word, but there are clubs circling Sua Fa’alogo.” Papenhuyzen's injury does raise the question on whether rival clubs will offer the fullback more than $1 million having played only 35 NRL games since the start of 2022. Fa’alogo won't have any trouble finding offers from rival clubs with the electric fullback only starting his promising NRL career.