Rugby league legend Cameron Smith believes there’s nothing more Melbourne Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen can do to put his hand up for New South Wales Origin selection.
Papenhuyzen is perhaps the competition’s most in-form player, with the fullback leading the Dally M Medal count after seven rounds with 15 points to his name – a full game ahead of second place.
With the Storm star in career-best form, Cameron Smith was asked whether his former teammate had to improve even further to attract the attention of Blues selectors.
“To answer that question of, ‘What more can he do?’, it’s nothing,” Smith said on SEN 1170 The Captain’s Run.
“He can’t do anything more than he’s doing right now.
“He’s absolutely on fire, his game has most definitely gone to another level this year.
“He’s staying out on the field, which has helped him, he hasn’t had injuries … he’s had plenty of game time.
“The quick answer is, he can’t do anything more than he’s doing right now, and that’s all you can do.”
While Papenhuyzen is in stronger form than any of his adversaries, Smith can’t see the 23-year-old starting ahead of incumbent number one James Tedesco.
“Now it’s up to Brad Fittler and the selection panel to select their team,” Smith said.
“Do I think they’ll unseat Tedesco from the number one job? No I don’t, not right now.
“You’ve got to remember he’s the captain as well of that footy side. If you replace Tedesco with Papenhuyzen then you’ve got to find yourself another captain of the footy side – which they’re not short of in terms of leaders.
“But he’s your captain and he’s played extremely well across four or five Origin series’.”
With the starting spot all but locked up by Tedesco, Smith pondered whether Papemhuyzen will earn a place on the bench due to his lack of obvious versatility.
“People he say he should be on the bench, well where should he play? Tedesco is not going to be taken off at any stage of the game unless he’s injured,” Smith explained.
“If he doesn’t get injured, does he (Papenhuyzen) play a minute of the game? Then you’re playing an Origin game with 16 players effectively.
“Is he big enough to play in the middle? I don’t think so. That’s where I think you’d lean towards a Nicho Hynes because he can play fullback for Tedesco … he can play anywhere in the backline.
“I think that’s where they’d be leaning towards, but for Ryan Papenhuyzen and him saying, ‘I can play State of Origin’, there’s nothing else he can do.
“It’s just unlucky that he’s playing in the (same) position as the current captain.”
New South Wales’ State of Origin squad will be announced in late May ahead of Game I in Sydney on June 8.