Melbourne Storm praised for stunning signing coup amid doubts around Ryan Papenhuyzen
New Zealand sevens star Moses Leo has been granted an early release to join the Storm ahead of their 2025 campaign.
Craig Bellamy has moved to bolster the Storm's backline stocks ahead of the new season, as Ryan Papenhuyzen's future in Melbourne remains unclear. On Tuesday, the Storm confirmed New Zealand Rugby had permitted Olympian Moses Leo to get out of his contract early to join the premiership contenders ahead of the 2025 NRL season.
Leo originally signed with Melbourne on a two-year deal from 2026 but will now arrive for pre-season training at the Storm in the coming days, in a massive coup for the premiership contenders. The 27-year-old debuted with the All Blacks sevens squad in 2022 and has represented the Kiwis at both the Commonwealth and Olympic Games. He scored two tries against Australia in the bronze medal match at the Commonwealth Games in 2022, while he was in the squad that lost to South Africa in the quarter-finals in Paris earlier this year.
Bellamy already has runs on the board when it comes to turning rugby union talent into world-class rugby league players. Most recently the master-coach helped develop former sevens star Will Warbrick into one of the best wingers in the NRL, while also turning Jack Howarth into a dangerous centre.
And Warbrick believes under the tutelage of Bellamy, Leo will develop into a premier NRL player. "He’s a dynamic guy, a great athlete, got great speed and skill. He’s got a good offload and good footwork, so he’s a damaging runner," Warbrick said of Leo in August. "If you’ve got those traits, I’m sure you’ll do well in the NRL. I can’t compare him to anyone, but he’s a talent."
Warbrick added: "He’s a disciplined dude who’s hard-working. If you’ve got those traits you’ll do well at whatever you decide to do. I think he’ll excel here. He’ll fit in and that’s the main thing.
“Melbourne’s a good environment. We’ve got some really good players here, got great coaches and we’ve just got great people at the club. Melbourne have good people in the club who are willing to help and put time and effort into you and develop you, that’s what they’re good at. I’ve seen first-hand he works hard, he’s a great trainer and we’ve got great coaches and a great environment.”
With the increasing uncertainty around Papenhuyzen's future, Melbourne fans were thrilled with the announcement Leo will be joining the club a year earlier than expected. Speaking on SEN radio on Tuesday, Joel Caine and Bryan Fletcher also praised the move by the Storm.
Great news
— Wolflinkin (@WolfLinkin) November 18, 2024
Great news not having to wait till ‘26
— mocha (@magicmoca) November 18, 2024
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 lfg
— meg (@megisabella_) November 18, 2024
Can't wait! ⚡️
— Anastazia Itai (@missyA29) November 18, 2024
Ryan Papenhuyzen to decide on NRL future before 2025 season
Meanwhile, Papenhuyzen has dismissed claims he could look to move to an NRL rival for more money as he vowed to decide on his future before the start of the 2025 NRL season. The Storm fullback is one of the highest-profile players on the open market for 2026, after becoming free to talk to rival clubs earlier this month.
Canterbury and Parramatta are believed to be interested in the Storm star and are thought to be able to offer him in the region of $1 million a season. In contrast, the Storm No.1 has been offered a deal close to $750,000 a year to stay in Melbourne.
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However, the fullback says his decision won't come down to money and insists the deciding factor will be where he believes he can win a premiership. "There is a lot of narrative going around about it being based on money, which is quite easy to speculate about," Papenhuyzen told Triple M Melbourne.
"But that is something I have been strong on the whole time, it's not about money. I want to win premierships. I know my career only has so long in it. You want to be in the best environment with a great mindset and a good roster.
"Melbourne definitely does have that for sure, but we have had a couple of people leave lately that I am waiting to see who we can get in those positions to fill in."
"I think a decision will come before the season. I don't think I will drag it into the season. I know the effect it has on your teammates dragging it out. I feel like I will come to a decision before games are played. But right now it is just sitting there weighing all options up."
Papenhuyzen's decision will have major ramifications either way, with Melbourne set to lose either Papenhuyzen or Samoan whiz kid Sua Fa'alogo, who the club has said will be allowed to leave if the Storm No.1 re-signs. Papenhuyzen was a Clive Churchill Medallist in Melbourne's last grand-final win in 2020 but has played only 50 games in the four years since then due to injuries. In his absence, Fa'alogo has shown his immense talent and there will be no shortage of clubs interested in his signature if he is allowed to leave Melbourne.
with agencies