Melbourne Storm racing clock over Ryan Papenhuyzen deal as NRL great questions Sua Fa'alogo role

Storm fans are waiting to see Ryan Papenhuyzen's next move with the fullback yet to announce a deal with Melbourne as Sua Fa'alogo's future remains under a cloud. This week the Storm announced Harry Grant had taken up his player option and would remain with the club through 2026. This means the Storm have locked down three of their four spine members with Papenhuyzen the missing piece of the puzzle.

And Melbourne have now turned their attention to the 26-year-old who is yet announce his re-signing with the club as the 1 November negotiation date is fast-approaching. Papenhuyzen has reportedly been offered a $3 million deal for three years at the Storm, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Although there has been no announcement Papenhuyzen has signed the deal with the fullback free to negotiate with other clubs in a little more than a week. While most expect Papenhuyzen to stay at the Storm, his deal would cause further issues for the Storm with talented youngster Fa'alogo's position in the squad up for debate.

The Parramatta Eels and the Dragons could both be set to offer Papenhuyzen money if he decides to negotiate with other clubs. Both have been linked with rival fullbacks in recent weeks and come 1 November, both could be interested in Papenhuyzen with the fullback a proven premiership fullback at the NRL level.

Speaking on SEN Radio, Penrith legend Greg Alexander quickly pondered what will happen with Fa'alogo if Papenhuyzen re-signs. Fa'alogo is considered too talented to sit around for three years and wait for Papenhuyzen's next deal, which prompted Alexander to ask if Fa'alogo would be happy to remain a utility for the coming seasons.

"What will happen with Fa'alogo at Melbourne, with Papenhuyzen committing," Alexander said on SEN Radio. "Where does he fit in, does he become a permanent No.14?"

Commentator Andrew Voss admitted the Storm offered Fa'alogo a five-year contract at the beginning of 2024 because they see something in the 21-year-old talent. He claimed Storm's recruitment - having identified the likes of Billy Slater and Papenhuyzen as kids - as world class.

However, it appears unlikely Fa'alogo will sit around for another few years and remain as a utility. His position as No.14 remains a doubt with Tyran Wishart appearing to jump ahead of him in the queue under Craig Bellamy in recent months.

After the NRL grand final, Wishart all but confirmed he will stay at Melbourne having played 36 minutes against the Panthers. Wishart's versilitiy appeared to propel him ahead of Fa'alogo in the Storm 17, which leaves the exciting fullback a huge decision to make if Papenhuyzen re-signs as the primary fullback under Bellamy.

Sua Fa'alogo to attract rival NRL offers

A few weeks ago, reporter Michael Chammas claimed there will be no shortage of rival clubs wanting to sign the young fullback if he decides his future isn't at the Storm. Chammas claimed the Storm have a verbal agreement with Fa’alogo that would allow him to seek footy elsewhere if they re-sign Papenhuyzen.

“Matt Tripp, the Storm chairman, has a verbal undertaking with Sua Fa’alogo’s manager Liam Ayoub that if Ryan Papenhuyzen wants to extend his time, they will sit back down and look at his contract,” Chammas told Triple M radio recently.

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“Now, that is not a clause in his contract; it’s not in writing, so it will come down to whether Melbourne keep their word, but there are clubs circling Sua Fa’alogo.” Papenhuyzen is resting after the NRL grand final after it emerged he played with a fracture in his foot.

The injury does raise the question on whether rival clubs will offer the fullback more than $1 million having played only 35 NRL games since the start of 2022. Fa’alogo won't have any trouble finding offers from rival clubs with the electric fullback only starting his promising NRL career.