Billy Slater and wife detail comes to light amid clever Ryan Papenhuzyen decision for Melbourne

Roosters great Bryan Fletcher has claimed Billy Slater and his wife Nicole may have been influential in helping Ryan Papenhuyzen decide his Melbourne Storm future after reports the fullback will extend his stay. On Wednesday, The Sydney Morning Herald reported Papenhuyzen is set to sign a one-year extension to stay in Melbourne on $800,000 for the season.

The move comes as a surprise to many with Papenhuyzen refusing to lock down his long-term future at a club, especially considering his injury record. The long-term futures of Craig Bellamy and Harry Grant also remain up-in-the-air at the Storm, which could have influenced Papenhuyen's decision.

However, Fletcher believes there is more at play with the reported deal having suggested his relationship to Melbourne Storm legend Slater and his family could have played a huge role. Papenhuyzen has talked about the role Slater and his wife played in 2022 when he shattered his knee cap.

The fullback has described the Slater's as 'family' having moved to Melbourne from Sydney earlier in his career. Having endured a horror two-year run with injuries starting with a shattered knee cap in 2022, Papenhuyzen admitted an escape to the Slater's farm helped him recover before his NRL return the following year.

While many thought Papenhuyzen might be tempted to move to Sydney if a bigger offer from the Bulldogs was delivered in the coming weeks, it appears he wants to stay in Melbourne. And speaking on Wednesday, Fletcher believes the Slater's would have played a role in Papenhuyzen's looming decision to potentially prolong his stay in Melbourne.

"I reckon Billy Slater has got something to with it. When he did his knees and ankle he went out and stayed on the farm with Billy. They got quite close," Fletcher said. "He has come out in the media saying he was really looked after, because he is a Sydney boy. Good on him. I think he has done the right thing."

Fletcher also felt Papenhuyzen has backed himself to cement himself as one of the game's premier fullbacks and stay in a team that will be competing for a premiership across the next two season. "I know he is backing himself...He could have got more money but he is showing faith in the Melbourne Storm. I think he has done the right thing," Fletcher said on SEN Radio.

Ryan Papenhuzyen praises Billy Slater's influence

Papenhuyzen returned from a shattered knee cap and a broken ankle to help the Storm win the minor premiership in 2024. The 26-year-old played 20 games and scored 13 tries to mark a brilliant comeback from two serious injuries.

And speaking earlier in the season, Papenhuyzen praised the guidance he received from the Slater's. Papenhuyzen said the Storm legend and Nicole reached out to him when he was injured invited him to join them on the farm as an outlet.

"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," he said earlier this year. "Going to their farm, it’s an outlet.

“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.”

RELATED:

• Calls for Ezra Mam to make immediate return to Broncos as rehab ends

• Broncos demoted in shock move as Nathan Cleary call officially rejected

Slater acted as a mentor to Papenhuyzen he first started his NRL career at the Storm. And the current Queensland coach hasn't stopped guiding Papenhuyzen - on and off the field.

"Billy has been awesome. I am where I am now because of him," Papenhuyzen said in 2023. "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."