Ryan Papenhuyzen is the latest high-profile NRL player weighing up a move to the R360 competition – but Phil Gould has major doubts over the potential code switch.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the fullback met with officials last weekend in Melbourne and could be offered a contract worth $1.5 million per year to join the rebel league once his current deal with the Storm expires.
Papenhuyzen is one of rugby league’s brightest stars, but remains unsigned with the Storm beyond 2026 and the big-money offer could be hard to turn down.
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But with the 27-year-old returning from a calf injury for Melbourne on Thursday night and finals on the horizon, Gould is adamant a code switch isn’t his top priority right now – but being able to lift the Provan Summons Trophy in October could sway him.
Ryan Papenhuyzen Getty
“Ryan Papenhuyzen strikes me as someone who is extremely loyal to the Melbourne Storm,” he said on Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles With Gus.
“If they were to win a premiership, it might change his mind about moving on and doing something else. I think he’s fairly committed with this playing group to winning a premiership … they want to get through this and do it together.
“What happens in the future with Ryan Papenhuyzen, if someone is gonna throw that stupid money at you, I suppose you could consider it.
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“Would he be happy playing in that game? I highly doubt it. Does money make you happy? No it doesn’t – that’s not the motivation that you need. When you think back on your career when it’s over, it’s not the money you remember.
“I think Ryan Papenhuyzen is a really level-headed young man. He got paid every dollar for the years that he missed out when he was injured, so will have some loyalty there.
“Reports of offers here and there, that’s sometimes management wielding power to extract more money on behalf of their client.
“I don’t think they would be coming from Ryan Papenhuyzen. I don’t think he is giving anything a thought other than winning a premiership with the Melbourne Storm.
“He’s contracted until the end of 2026 anyway, it’s not even on his mind.”
Papenhuyzen has already won a premiership with the Storm in 2020, where he also collected the Clive Churchill Medal as the best player in the grand final.
He isn’t the only league star who has been linked with a move overseas, with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Jaydn Su’A also in the sights of cashed-up R360 executives.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck Getty
But according to Gould, players need to be wary of the differences between the two codes when the dollar signs start to get flashed before their eyes.
“Be careful what you wish for – money is not everything,” the Bulldogs boss said.
“It’s a lot of money, but you’ve still got to go and perform. I don’t know anything about R360 and to be honest, a lot of our NRL players couldn’t play rugby. It’s a different game, it’s not as transferable as people think.
“I’ve seen some of our stars go to rugby and they were pretty useless at it. You’ve got to learn all the rules and they don’t get the ball anyway.
“I don’t bag it, a lot of people love rugby and it’s a great sport – but it’s different and our rugby league players can’t play that game.”
