‘Realised they didn’t need me’: Sad moment Papenhuyzen’s ‘ego took a hit’
Ryan Papenhuyzen says he is “content” with his decision to hang up the boots, but admitted one moment where his ego took a hit early this NRL season.
The 28-year-old took the game by surprise at the end of last year, walking out on the final year of his Melbourne Storm contract at the age of just 27.
Ryan Papenhuyzen. Getty
Papenhuyzen, who won the Clive Churchill Medal in 2020, was heavily linked to R360 before the breakaway rugby competition had its start date delayed.
Many expected that Papenhuyzen would end up at another NRL club after being released by the Storm, but the fullback soon confirmed he was retired.
A horror injury toll and multiple concussions played a role in Papenhuyzen’s surprise decision, noting one crucial moment in his last season.
However, the decision didn’t come easily and Papenhuyzen did admit he wished he had his time over when it came to how he told the club.
“I had in my head that I wasn’t gonna tell them while we were playing and it would be a distraction,” he told Nine’s Freddy and The Eighth.
“I’d contemplated it for a while, I always knew I had to do something different and have a plan B. Each of those (injuries) led me closer to making that decision.
“I think the head knock in the last round against Brisbane, that was sort of like, ‘what are you doing?’, and that encouraged the decision in the end.
“It was a decision that I’m gonna have a year off and have a year away from footy and see how I feel. I probably didn’t go about it the best way, I messaged the group and if I could have my time back, I should have done it a little bit better.
“I sit here now 12 months later and I’m pretty content with my decision.”
Storm teammate Cameron Munster felt the decision was on the horizon, even if it came as a shock to most of the squad and the wider rugby league community.
“I had a bit of an inkling, just the way he was coming into training,” Munster said.
“Hopefully he doesn’t mind me saying this, but he used to have a spring in his step and love coming in and enjoy his footy, but he had some bad injuries.
“For someone who had gone through such a tough time mentally, I felt like it was on the horizon from some of the conversations I was having with him.”
Papenhuyzen has been asked ad nauseam since retiring whether he would return to the NRL after a year off, but is adamant that won’t be the case.
Ryan Papenhuyzen had a tough run of injuries. Getty
“Nah, I think my drive has gone into different areas,” he said.
“It served its purpose for footy, I got a lot out of it and I met some great people and had some good opportunities, but I’m looking at the next path now.”
After scoring 77 tries in 113 first grade games for the Storm, winning a grand final and becoming one of the game’s best fullbacks, Papenhuyzen tried to go cold turkey when it came to his involvement with the sport.
But he quickly learned distancing himself from something he had dedicated his life to was easier said than done – even if it made Papenhuyzen question his own performances in the purple jersey last season.
Sua Faalogo has replaced Ryan Papenhuyzen in 2026. Getty
“My approach to the transition was to get away from it completely, but it’s very hard to do that,” Papenhuyzen said.
“I was over in New Zealand caddying for the Storm’s first game and as much as I wanted to go to bed and not see the result, I stayed up and watched the first half and pretty soon after that game, I realised they didn’t need me.
“The ego takes a hit for sure and you question if you’re the problem. We’re coming off back-to-back grand final losses and the boys go out there and dust up the Eels.
“Over the year, I’ve been able to look at it from a different perspective.”
Papenhuyzen remains close with Munster and Jahrome Hughes through their weekly 167 Podcast, but is now focusing on working in the “mental performance” space while learning more about psychology and philosophy.
