What Happened To Ryan Papenhuyzen? When Is Ryan Papenhuyzen Back From Injury?
by Aishwarya R
Updated May 12, 2023
Who is Ryan Papenhuyzen?
Ryan Papenhuyzen, born on June 10, 1998, is a professional rugby league footballer from Australia. He currently serves as a fullback for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League (NRL). Papenhuyzen played a crucial role in helping the Melbourne Storm win the NRL premiership in 2020. Born in Sydney, Australia, Papenhuyzen comes from a Dutch background.
He spent his early years in Kellyville, New South Wales, and attended Oakhill College in Castle Hill. In 2015, he had the honor of representing the Australian Schoolboys in rugby league. Following his high school graduation, he pursued a degree in Physical Activity, Health, and Exercise Science at the Australian Catholic University. Papenhuyzen began his rugby league journey by playing touch football and representing various junior teams such as the Kellyville Bushrangers, Dundas Shamrocks, and the Hills District Bulls.
He was later signed by the Balmain Tigers, where he showcased his talent in the S. G. Ball Cup and Harold Matthews Cup, which are junior representative rugby league competitions. After his stint with Balmain, Papenhuyzen joined the Wests Tigers' NRL Under-20s team. Ultimately, Papenhuyzen made his move to the Melbourne Storm after being released by the Wests Tigers. In 2018, he played for Melbourne's under-20s team as well as their feeder team, the Sunshine Coast Falcons.
Impressive performances earned him a spot in the New South Wales under-20s State of Origin squad. Ryan Papenhuyzen's journey in rugby league has been characterized by hard work, determination, and a passion for the sport. He has established himself as a valuable asset to the Melbourne Storm and continues to make significant contributions to the NRL.
What Happened to Ryan Papenhuyzen?
In February 2023, Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy revealed that Ryan Papenhuyzen's recovery from a severe knee injury had been slower than expected. The talented fullback had fractured his kneecap midway through the 2022 season and sought treatment from renowned specialist Bill Knowles in the United States during the off-season.
At that time, Melbourne confirmed that Papenhuyzen would miss the first six to eight weeks of the 2023 season. However, beyond that initial period, Bellamy expressed uncertainty regarding when Papenhuyzen would be fit to return to the field.
Bellamy admitted during an interview on NRL360 that the recovery had progressed much more slowly than anticipated. Papenhuyzen had been in the United States working with a highly regarded specialist, but he had not yet started running on land and was limited to water-based running. As a result, the team was unsure about the length of his recovery process.
Papenhuyzen faced challenges during the slow rehabilitation and was eagerly waiting for the day when he could resume playing. The uncertainty surrounding his return date had been mentally taxing. Bellamy stressed the importance of patience, hoping that once Papenhuyzen started running on land, his progress would accelerate. However, at that stage, he was still far away from participating in team training sessions.
Bellamy acknowledged the possibility that Papenhuyzen might not make a comeback during the 2023 season, although the team remained confident in his eventual return. The coach emphasized that the priority was not to rush him back, but to ensure he was fully recovered. The timeframe for his return was uncertain, with the best-case scenario being six to eight weeks, possibly extending to 10 weeks. Nonetheless, there were no guarantees, and the team was taking no chances with his recovery.
During the same period, Papenhuyzen shared his aspirations of returning to the field at full fitness and avoiding further injuries. He expressed his desire to not just make a comeback but to perform at his best level. His time spent with specialist Bill Knowles, who had also worked with players like Latrell Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic for their hamstring injuries, had been influential. Papenhuyzen emphasized the importance of disregarding external pressures and sticking to the reconditioning process outlined by his medical team. He believed that once he gained confidence and accumulated sufficient training repetitions, he would be ready to play again.
When is Ryan Papenhuyzen Back From Injury?
Melbourne Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen, who has been sidelined due to injury, has provided an update on his recovery, stating that there is no specific return date but expressing confidence that he will play at some point during the 2023 season. Papenhuyzen acknowledged the frustration of being out of action for nine months but expressed satisfaction with the progress he has made in his rehabilitation. He revealed that he has resumed running on land, which is a positive step forward in his recovery journey.
Reflecting on his performances in previous seasons, Papenhuyzen had a standout year in 2021. He began the season as the Storm's fullback and goal kicker following the retirement of Cameron Smith. In Round 4, he made headlines by scoring four tries in just 11 minutes against the Brisbane Broncos, equalling the club's record for most tries in a single game at the time.
He also kicked five goals, accumulating a total of 26 points, and climbed to second place on the list of most points scored in a game by a Melbourne Storm player. Throughout the season, he remained a consistent performer, scoring 14 tries and amassing 157 points as the Storm secured the Minor Premiership. Although he suffered a concussion in Round 10, ruling him out for a significant portion of the season, Papenhuyzen made a comeback in Round 19.
Moving to the 2022 NRL season, Papenhuyzen continued to excel. In Round 4, he set a new career-high by scoring 28 points in a single game against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, with four tries and six goals. However, he faced a setback in Round 9 when he sustained a hamstring and knee injury, causing him to miss four to six matches. He made a successful return in Round 16, scoring two tries despite the team's loss to Manly.
As for the present, Papenhuyzen remains optimistic about his eventual return to the field in 2023. While there is no fixed timeline, he is focused on continuing his rehab and regaining full fitness to contribute to the Storm's campaign.
Ryan Papenhuyzen Salary
Ryan Papenhuyzen's salary is estimated at $900K. In 2021, Ryan Papenhuyzen, the reigning Clive Churchill Medallist, signed a three-year contract extension with Melbourne Storm, keeping him in the team until the end of the 2025 season. Papenhuyzen was already one of the most exciting and popular players in the NRL, having made the Storm No.1 jersey his own since his breakthrough season in 2019.
At the time, Papenhuyzen was about to celebrate his 50th match for Melbourne in a blockbuster game against Penrith at Suncorp Stadium. In his rookie season, Papenhuyzen played 22 games, including three finals, and was a major part of Storm’s premiership-winning team in 2020. His man-of-the-match performance in the grand final defeat of the Panthers was a particular highlight.
Papenhuyzen had been in sensational form at the start of the 2021 season, scoring four tries against Brisbane, before being forced to miss 10 rounds due to concussion. Melbourne Storm General Manager – Football, Frank Ponissi, said that securing a longer contract for Papenhuyzen had been a high priority for the NRL premiers.
Ryan Papenhuyzen Height and Weight
The below tabular column will show the height and weight of Ryan Papenhuyzen:-
Feet Inches
5ft 11 inches
Centimeters
181 cm
Kilograms
80 kg
Pounds
12 st 8 lb
Height
Weight
Ryan Papenhuyzen Girlfriend
In 2020, ahead of the NRL grand final between Melbourne Storm and Penrith Panthers, Ryan Papenhuyzen spoke about his relationship with netball star Kelsey Browne. Papenhuyzen credited Browne with being a driving force behind his push for an NRL premiership and said that if he managed to taste victory, she would be one of the first people he thanked.
Browne, who plays for the Melbourne Vixens in Super Netball, had been staying with Papenhuyzen in the Melbourne Storm’s quarantine accommodation on the Sunshine Coast. They were able to link back up when the netball season also relocated to the sunshine state, and they’ve been able to stay together now that Browne’s season is over.
Papenhuyzen said that Browne’s experience winning two premierships with the Sunshine Coast Lightning had provided him with inspiration and advice. He also noted that their shared experiences as athletes in different sports had been beneficial to both of them.
2020 grand final pitted a Panthers side that had enjoyed the best season in living memory against the greatest powerhouse of the modern era in Melbourne Storm. The Storm had handled the NRL’s lockdown the best, while the Panthers had been galvanized by being forced out of home for four months.
The game was also a clash of the best young talent in the likes of Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai trying to deny arguably the greatest of all time in Cameron Smith. Smith was entering his eighth grand final and potentially his last if he chose to retire. The Storm captain was aware of Penrith’s position, with their players having just three grand finals between them.
What Happened to Ryan Papenhuyzen - FAQs
Ryan Papenhuyzen is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a fullback for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Ryan Papenhuyzen made his NRL debut for the Wests Tigers in 2018, before joining Melbourne Storm in 2019.
Ryan Papenhuyzen is known for his speed and agility, making him a dangerous attacking player. He is also strong under the high ball and a solid defender.
Yes, Ryan Papenhuyzen was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal for his man-of-the-match performance in the 2020 NRL Grand Final, in which he helped the Melbourne Storm to a premiership victory over the Penrith Panthers.
Yes, Ryan Papenhuyzen has represented Australia at the international level. He made his debut for the Kangaroos in 2020 and has also played for the New South Wales Blues in State of Origin.