‘It’s garbage’: Storm blow up at claims the club is trying to get rid of superstar fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen

The Melbourne Storm has slammed a report suggesting the club is willing to release superstar fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen from the final two years of his contract.

Papenhuyzen was restricted to just three matches this season having missed 13 months of NRL action after he suffered a shattered kneecap while tackling Canberra’s Jack Wighton in round 18 back in 2022.

His return to the field was one of the great stories this year, but the fairytale was brutally cut short in the first week of the finals when he fractured his ankle against Brisbane.

The 2020 Clive Churchill Medal winner is one of the most electrifying fullbacks in the game, which is why everyone was shocked to read a report that the Storm had offered him to a rival club.

Papenhuyzen still has two years to run on his Storm deal, with livewire Sua Fa’alogo emerging as a possible option at the back after he starred in the final round of the season and then excelled against the Kangaroos while playing for Samoa.

But the Storm has moved swiftly to shoot down the report, with general manager of football Frank Ponissi describing the claims as “garbage” and saying Papenhuyzen remains a huge part of the club’s future on and off the field.

“At no stage has any Storm official made contact with another club directly or via a third party regarding an early release of Ryan from his contract,” the Storm wrote in a statement.

“Other than one text message, the club has not been contacted for comment or clarification on the matter.

“On that one occasion, the journalist was told unequivocally that the story was factually untrue.

“Paps is a Melbourne Storm person, he is loved by his teammates, coaches and staff and adored by Storm members and fans across the country and we look forward to seeing him on the track when he resumes training in December.”