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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.

ben talintyre
Sports Reporter
·5-min read

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.

Pictured Craig Bellamy left and Ryan Papenhuyzen right
Craig Bellamy has bolstered Melbourne Storm's backline stocks as Ryan Papenhuyzen's future at the club remains unclear. Image: AAP

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."

New Zealand's Moses Leo scores a try during the men's placing 5-8 rugby sevens match between New-Zealand and Argentina during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on July 27, 2024. (Photo by CARL DE SOUZA / AFP) (Photo by CARL DE SOUZA/AFP via Getty Images)
Moses Leo will begin training with the Storm in the coming days. Image: Getty
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 05: Will Warbrick of the Storm celebrates a try during the round 27 NRL match between Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm at Suncorp Stadium, on September 05, 2024, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Russell Freeman/Getty Images)
Will Warbrick has quickly become one of the best wingers in the NRL. Image: Getty

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.

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.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 06: Sualauvi Faalogo of the Storm runs with the ball during the round 18 NRL match between Wests Tigers and Melbourne Storm at Leichhardt Oval, on July 06, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)
If Ryan Papenhuyzen stays in Melbourne, the Storm will allow Sua Faalogo to leave. Image: Getty

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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."

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - MAY 04: Ryan Papenhuyzen of the Storm is injured during the round nine NRL match between Gold Coast Titans and Melbourne Storm at Cbus Super Stadium, on May 04, 2024, in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Injuries have limited Ryan Papenhuyzen's games in recent years. Image: Getty

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