Papenhuyzen has ‘unfinished business’ with Melbourne Storm

Ryan Papenhuyzen has “unfinished business” with the Melbourne Storm, saying his reason for re-signing with the NRL club in 2025 is to win premierships.

The fullback contemplated a move after Melbourne fell one match short of winning the title in 2024, testing his value on the open market in November.

While the Eels, Bulldogs and Dragons all showed interest, Papenhuyzen ultimately decided to remain with the Storm for at least one more year.

Now, he is eager to remain in Melbourne until the club tastes premiership glory again.

“I just want to win premierships,” Papenhuyzen said on Monday.

“There was that feeling that we’d done so much work as a group, and there’s so much confidence in this group.

“I want to be in Melbourne and I want to play for the Storm.

“At the end of the day that was it, I had to sit back and reflect on what I really wanted to do.

“After experiencing a premiership in 2020, you just want to chase that feeling again and do it with the group you’ve worked so hard with.”

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The Storm’s success in 2020 — where they beat the Penrith Panthers 26-20 in the grand final — was Papenhuyzen’s first premiership.

Since then, they have finished as minor premiers twice, falling in the preliminary final in 2021 and 2023, the elimination final in 2022, and the grand final last year.

While Papenhuyzen knows he could go in search of success elsewhere, he is eager to finish what has been started in Melbourne.

“Yeah, you could go and win premierships at other clubs,” he said.

“But you’ve put in all those tough years, it’s seven or eight years I’ve been down here in Melbourne.

“I think a lot of it was based off that feeling that there’s still a job to do, there’s a lot of unfinished business with this squad.

“We’ve sort of worked really hard the last few years and especially last year, we put a lot of hard work in and I still feel like we have a lot to give in this squad.

“I want to be a part of this team and a part of this squad.

“The contract was running out which wasn’t ideal, but I still feel like I’ve got a lot to offer, and we’ve got a lot to offer as a team.

“The longer we can stick together and battle that out, the more we’re going to learn and grow together.

“You’re never guaranteed success but we’re going to give ourselves the best shot.”

Melbourne’s core has at least another two seasons together if Papenhuyzen opts to stay at the Storm beyond this year, with Jahrome Hughes, Cameron Munster and Harry Grant all signed on until the end of 2026 or beyond.

NRL betting sites have them as $3.75 favourites to win the premiership in 2025, ahead of the Penrith Panthers ($4.33) and Brisbane Broncos ($7.50).

The Storm begin their season on Sunday, March 9, against the Parramatta Eels, and Marantelli Bet has Craig Bellamy’s men at $1.25 to start the year with a win.

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