Melbourne Storm star Ryan Papenhuyzen has reportedly been offered around to a rival NRL club, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
The news comes after weeks of speculation over the Storm’s first-choice option for the fullback position going into 2024.
With Papenhuyzen coming off two debilitating injuries and Nick Meaney and Sualauvi Faalogo both starring at fullback without him in the team, the former Clive Churchill Medallist may be the odd man out.
Despite concerns over his durability and future in the sport, SEN’s Greg Alexander threw his support behind Papenhuyzen to return to his career-best form next season.
“I think he’ll be back (to his best), I saw him last Friday, he was very confident that he’d be back running after Christmas and ready to go,” Alexander said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“The knee will have more time to heal, he said the only worry is the fact that it is the same leg, the broken ankle was the same (leg) as the knee.
“The quad and the muscle in his thigh wasted away a little, I think he’ll be back.”
With the rumours suggesting Papenhuyzen could be on the move, Alexander admitted he would take the risk with him, despite the injury history.
“I’d go with him, I’d take that risk,” Alexander added.
“I think he’ll recover, and the knee will be fine.
“By the time he gets back on the field after another offseason, even though it’s an injured offseason, I don’t think that will be an issue, the knee.”
Papenhuyzen is under contract with the Storm until the end of the 2025 season on a reported value of $800k per year.