Ryan Papenhuyzen looks set to stay with Melbourne beyond next year, raising question marks over the future of boom rookie Sua Fa’alogo.
According to 9News reporter Danny Weidler, the fullback and his agent Clinton Schifcofske will meet with Storm officials on Thursday to finalise a new contract.
The 26-year-old was set to come off-contract at the end the 2025 season, meaning he would have been available to rival clubs from November this year.
LIVE UPDATES: Follow all the action from day 12
READ MORE: Commentators’ hilarious reaction to Arisa Trew’s golden run
READ MORE: Closing ceremony boycott after ‘scandalous’ call
Papenhuyzen has endured a horror run with injury in recent seasons, but has returned to form this year for the NRL ladder leaders.
https://twitter.com/Danny_Weidler/status/1821078152824942634?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
At this stage, the length of a potential extension has not been revealed.
Watch the 2024 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.
Papenhuyzen played in the Storm’s 2020 grand final win, picking up the Clive Churchill Medal in the process and cementing himself as the long-term No.1 at the club.
However, the emergence of Fa’alogo has put pressure on Papenhuyzen and despite the club’s desire to extend the latter’s tenure, there is certainly no guarantee.
Fa’alogo is already locked up by Melbourne until 2028 and his mix of blistering speed and raw ability makes him a legitimate chance to dethrone Papenhuyzen.
Both players have featured in the 2024 season under Craig Bellamy, with young gun Fa’alogo spending time in the bench utility role.