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Ryan Papenhuyzen says he has no plans to return to the NRL next year and cannot imagine playing professional sport again, after walking out on the final season of his Melbourne Storm contract and watching the rebel R360 competition stall.
Speaking after playing the Australian Open Pro-Am at Royal Melbourne, the 27 year old was emphatic that his immediate future lies outside elite sport.
“I want to do something a bit different and throw myself into something I’m a bit uncomfortable with, and see if I enjoy that,” Papenhuyzen said.
“Life’s only short. If I’m my 80-year-old self looking back right now, what’s something I would regret not doing? It’s probably taking a chance and not doing something else.”
Papenhuyzen confirmed the collapse of R360 had not changed his plan to take a gap year from sport. He was in discussions about joining the global rugby union concept before organisers shelved it until after the 2027 World Cup.
“Once the postponement came out, everyone said, ‘what are you going to do now?’” he said. “The plan was to have a year off and try a few different things. The plan doesn’t change for me, maybe more for Lomax.”
Zac Lomax now faces limbo, after the Eels agreed to release him early and he met with Western Force officials about shifting codes.
Asked whether he could envision a future NRL comeback, Papenhuyzen was blunt. “Right now, no. I’d love to play touch footy in Sydney or Melbourne and have that social side of it back. But not anything too professionally.”
He described the discussion around his future as a “circus”, and joked that speculation has followed him everywhere.
“All my mates and family think I’ve signed something somewhere. I’m like, ‘I’m just not playing’,” he said. “I had a wedding in Wollongong and everyone thought I’d signed with the Dragons.”
The former Storm fullback said he would spend more time exploring other passions, including mentoring young athletes in sports psychology.
“When you look within, once you understand yourself you understand what you want to do. For me at this time of my life, it’s not footy. It’s something else,” he said.
Papenhuyzen said 2026 would be “a blank canvas”.
“Why not try something different? I’ve been in rugby league for 10 years… why not pivot? I’ve done it on my own terms and I’m healthy. You never know what’s going to happen.”
