Ryan Papenhuyzen caught in ugly drama as Brandon Smith comment angers Melbourne Storm
The former Melbourne Storm player has caused a stir with his latest comments on the fullback.
Roosters No.9 Brandon Smith has caused a stir having taken a little swipe at former teammate Ryan Papenhuyzen as the Storm fullback's contract negotiations continue. Smith's future at the Roosters has been put into doubt with speculation the club may not offer him a contract extension past 2025.
Smith is on around $850,000 a year at the Roosters, which is a substantial amount, but isn't currently an 80 minute dummy-half. There were talks the Roosters might let his contract run out in 2026 to be able to make a play for a number of players. And while it is unlikely the Roosters will make a play for Papenhuyze, Smith has opted to weigh-in on his current offer from Melbourne.
The Storm offered Papenhuyzen a smaller deal than expected, which would see him go from $950,000 to $750,000 per season if he wants to stay under Craig Bellamy's tenure. And Smith has taken a dig at his former teammate having suggested he hasn't warranted a boosted deal.
Speaking on the weekend, Smith claimed the Storm did not undervalue Papenhuyzen due to his injury record. Papenhuyzen has suffered a horror run of injuries in the past three years and has only played 30 games across three seasons.
Smith claimed the Storm correctly valued Papenhuyzen because he is 'fragile' and has missed too many games in recent times. “I don’t think they [the Storm] undervalued him,” Smith said on the 'Cheese and Jam' podcast with James Graham. “I think if you look back in the last three years, he’s played 15-odd games.
"I think that would have been a part of the decision-making process. We can’t continue to pay this guy $1.1m when he’s playing 30 per cent of the season. He’s small and he’s fragile.”
While Papenhuyzen has been unfortunate with injuries, the Storm fullback has still scored 29 tries in those 30 games and has proven to be one of the best No.1s in the game when at full fitness. Regardless, leading journalist Danny Weidler reported the Storm were unimpressed with Smith's comments about his former teammate.
The Storm may feel Smith is right considering the club have not offered him a $1 million deal, which could be down to his injuries, but it appears they don't agree with how he has gone about delivering the comments. Papenhuyzen is attracting plenty of interest from rival NRL clubs in recent weeks with the Bulldogs, Eels and Sharks also linked to the fullback.
Cronulla Sharks to make play for Ryan Papenhuyzen?
One team that could have entered the race for Papenhuyzen is the Sharks. Will Kennedy's future at the club remains in limbo with reports coach Craig Fitzgibbon is looking at a reshuffle to the team. The Sharks No.1 is off contract after 2025 and Fitzgibbon could be looking to bring the premiership winning fullback from the Storm to Cronulla.
The Sharks are facing a salary cap squeeze with Ronaldo Mulitalo and Cameron McInnes also off contract. And if the Sharks can't sign Papenhuyzen, they could also look to move Nicho Hynes from halfback to fullback.
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Papenhuyzen is in a tricky situation at the Storm with young fullback Sua Fa'alogo waiting in the wings. The 22-year-old is considered by many as the future long-term fullback at the Storm and many feel losing Papenhuyzen isn't a major loss for the team.
Reports suggest Fa'alogo has a handshake agreement with the Melbourne Storm and he could listen to rival offers if Papenhuyzen is confirmed as the long-term fullback at the club. This could see both the Sharks and the Eels make a play for Fa'alogo going forward.
Brandon Smith's Roosters future in limbo
Reporter Michael Chammas recently spoke about Smith's future at the Roosters and believes the No.9 won't be at the club after his contract ends in 2025. “I don’t see him at the Roosters beyond next year. I think they are making plans for life without Brandon Smith,” Chammas said on the James Graham The Bye Round podcast.
“I hear he’s in a good head space, and they’re happy the way he finished the year. But all the mail I’ve been getting out of the Roosters is that next year will be his final year at the club, and they’ll move into a different direction.” This could open the door for the Roosters to make a two-year offer for Hunt who could play halfback in 2025 - with Sam Walker expected to miss at least half of the season - and switch to utility in 2026.
