Ryan Papenhuyzen set for 'strange' Melbourne Storm deal after girlfriend's telling move

Ryan Papenhuyzen is reportedly set to end weeks of speculation, for now, and sign a one-year contract extension for the Storm only months after his girlfriend move to Melbourne. Papenhuyzen gave the biggest hint yet on Tuesday he was not looking to join a rival club just for a bigger payday having pointed out his desire to win more premierships.

The fullback is contracted until the end of the 2025 season, but opted not to immediately take up the Storm's offer. The 26-year-old was offered a smaller contract if he was going to stay in Melbourne on a multi-year deal with his new offer dropping from $950,000 to $750,000 per season.

Papenhuyzen is the starting fullback for the Storm and many suggested he was too comfortable to move away from Melbourne with his girlfriend, Emma MacDonald, having moved down from Sydney to be closer to him earlier this year. And his silence over a new contract attracted plenty of attention.

The likes of the Bulldogs were having a 'real crack' at signing the 26-year-old fullback for the 2026 season with the Dragons and Eels reportedly also interested. However, The Sydney Morning Herald has reported Papenhuyzen is set to sign a one-year contract extension, worth $800,000, to keep him in Melbourne. Sources close to the situation have spoken to the publication.

This is a blow for the Bulldogs, who reportedly had $1.6 million free in the salary cap to make a play, as Papenhuyzen appears set to remain south. Although the move has been described as 'strange' with Papenhuyzen reportedly not locking down his future at the club.

This still leaves the door open for Sua Fa'alogo to replace Papenhuyzen as the long-term fullback. The 21-year-old prodigy is deemed by many as the long-term fullback for the Storm. And reports Papenhuyzen hasn't signed a long-term contract could please Fa'alogo.

Storm in Sua Fa'alogo and Ryan Papenhuyzen dilemma

Earlier this year, Fa'alogo signed an extension with the Storm until the end of 2028. But reporter Michael Chammas claims the Storm have a verbal agreement with Fa'alogo that if they re-sign Papenhuyzen he can seek a deal elsewhere.

"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. "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."

However, if reports are correct that Papenhuyzen has not signed a long-term deal, this could see Fa'alogo bide his time at the club. Otherwise, there will be no shortage of rivals chasing Fa'alogo if he is afforded the opportunity to negotiate with other clubs.

On Tuesday, Papenhuyzen admitted his focus was on winning premierships and revealed he doesn't care about the money. "I’ve still got a year left in Melbourne, so I’m not going anywhere," he said on Triple M’s 'Rush Hour with JB & Billy'.

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"But as of a year left on your contract, you can start negotiating with other clubs, so there’s a bit of speculation purely based on the fact that I haven’t signed anything with the Storm yet. It’s hard to avoid the stuff going around on social media. I haven’t made a decision yet.

"There’s a lot of narrative around it being money, which is quite easy to speculate about, but that’s something I’ve been really strong on the whole time it’s not money. I want to win premierships. I know my career has only got so long in it. I’ve got a growth mindset. Melbourne definitely do have that, for sure."