Billy Slater and wife caught in sad fallout amid Melbourne's brutal call on Ryan Papenhuyzen

OPINION

With the Melbourne Storm at serious risk of losing Ryan Papenhuyzen to a rival NRL club, they're also at risk of angering one of the club's favourite sons - Billy Slater. Reports emerged over the weekend that the Storm are happy for Papenhuyzen to become a free agent on November 1 and test his value on the open market.

The fullback is currently on $950,000 per season at the Storm, but the club have only offered $750,000 if he wants to remain past the final year of his current deal in 2025. If November 1 rolls around and Papenhuyzen is still unsigned for 2026, he's free to strike a deal with another club.

The 26-year-old has been plagued by leg injuries in recent years, and the Storm are wary of blocking the path of young sensation Sua Fa'alogo. The 21-year-old was recently re-signed to a five-year deal at Melbourne, but has had his playing time limited due to the presence of Papenhuyzen at fullback.

Whoever the Storm decide is their long-term No.1, they'll likely lose the other player to a rival club. And if that player happens to be Papenhuyzen, it might not go down well with Slater and wife Nicole.

Slater has become a mentor and father figure to Papenhuyzen during his time in Melbourne, and helped him get back on track when he was at his lowest point. Papenhuyzen missed over 12 months of footy after fracturing his kneecap in 2022, and then broke his lower leg in just his third game back in 2023.

He suffered another fracture in 2024 but didn't miss too much time, and has reportedly impressed rival clubs with how strongly he's returned on each occasion. And someone who Papenhuyzen has continually credited with helping keep him focused on getting back on the field is Slater.

Ryan Papenhuyzen 'forever in debt' to Billy Slater and family

The Melbourne Storm legend has invited Papenhuyzen into his family home with wife Nicole and their kids on multiple occasions, and they've become his second family. Papenhuyzen is originally from Sydney, but leans on the Slaters in times of need while in Melbourne.

"The Slaters are the closest thing I have to a family down here (in Melbourne). I’m like an older brother to their kids, and I even have my own bedroom now. Going to their farm, it’s an outlet," he said earlier this year. “When I first did my ankle last year, I headed out to the farm for a week, and Nic had me on a quadbike with my foot up, feeding the animals. Billy understands what I’m going through. It’s good just to talk. I only hope I can mentor someone like that one day.”

Slater also endured some serious injuries during his playing days, and has helped Papenhuyzen bounce back when the 26-year-old felt like throwing it all away. "Billy has been awesome. I am where I am now because of him," Papenhuyzen said last year.

"He went through such a long-term injury himself and understands how tough it is, but him and Nicole would invite me over to their place and we would just have a day out where we would not talk about footy. He understood the mental side of rehab and how you need to switch off sometimes and enjoy the company of others. I am just really grateful to them.

"He is unbelievable. I am forever in debt to him. He has helped me through the whole ordeal. He reached out about how important it is to have someone else (helping) while you are not playing, to keep your mind simulated. It is just special to have someone like him at the club who wants to give back so much."

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Melbourne Storm call a 'slap in the face' for Billy Slater?

With Papenhuyzen and Slater forming such a close bond, it would be a bitter blow for the latter if the Storm allow their star fullback to walk. It might also come as a slight slap in the face considering the work Slater and wife Nicole have put in to help Papenhuyzen continue his career and get back to his best.

Leading reporter David Riccio said on SEN radio on Monday: “This will be a delicate scenario in how the Melbourne Storm manage to keep both fullbacks. Rival clubs are surprised about how well Papenhuyzen has come back from his injury and suddenly there is an appeal for him.

“His manager would know that and Melbourne will have to get their skates on to get a new deal for Papenhuyzen. He’s keen to stay there but the juggling act of keeping the two fullbacks and the increased appeal in rival clubs means he is likely to go to November 1.”