Ryan Papenhuyzen makes eye-catching return to the field after years of injury heartbreak

He’s endured three years of injury hell, but Ryan Papenhuyzen can’t remember the last time he felt so good after he made a stunning return to rugby league with a dazzling try and an assist in Melbourne’s 24-12 pre-season challenge loss to Canterbury.

While most people were simply hoping he’d get through Thursday night’s game unscathed, Papenhuyzen produced 40 classy minutes which will have Storm fans dreaming big if their speedy fullback can stay fit.

It was his first proper hit out since he suffered a devastating ankle injury in the finals last year in what was his third game back from a shattered patella that kept him out for more than 12 months.

But there were no battle scars for the 25-year-old who looked just as good as the player who won the Clive Churchill Medal in 2020.

“Body-wise I feel really good,” he said after the game, revealing he spent roughly $40,000 of his own money to head to America in a bid to assist his recovery.

“Rocking up to captain’s run yesterday (Wednesday) it’s the best I’ve felt since…I can’t even remember. To have that feeling and roll into gameday is similar.

“We train for two and a half hours back at the club, so I knew I only had to get through 40 minutes. It was tiring, but a great feeling and I’m glad I got through it.

“Body, mentally, everything, I’m really refreshed, really excited to play footy again. You strip it right back and it’s just a trial game but I’m really proud of myself and how our young boys performed tonight, even if we lost.”

It took Papenhuyzen just 13 minutes to make his mark on the contest when he threw a nice pass to set up Dean Ieremia, but it was his final act on the stroke of half-time that will have rival teams on notice.

The Storm won a scrum from 30 metres out, and instead of running a play to the right, halfback Jonah Pezet kicked back infield for his livewire fullback who outsprinted the defence and slammed the ball down in a sign that he’s back.

“It’s good I’m off the nudie run now,” he joked.

“I feel really quick, my top speed I recorded in 2018, I’ve hit 94 per cent of that and back then I was 60 kilos and now I’m 83. Whether that’s my new top speed or not I don’t know but I feel really confident I can hit it now. It’s just nice.

“A lot of it is just getting that first touch on the ball, once you get that you get the feel of it all back.

“It didn’t take me long to realise I’m fine, I’m good to go, I feel as in good a shape as I’ve ever been in. Now it’s just about getting the reps in. It’s one of those feelings where you run out there and feel like you’ve achieved something.”

Papenhuyzen finished with 45 metres from seven carries before he was given an early mark, and he’s already indicated he wants to play the Storm’s second trial game in Fiji to get more minutes with the club’s returning stars.

It’ll be another box ticked for the man with the most majestic mullet in rugby league, with Papenhuyzen talented enough to take the Storm deep into the finals.

“I don’t really have expectations on myself,” he said.

“We have our trademarks we want to hit each week and week to week that might change. I just focus on what I can during the week, get my body right - there’s only a few things I need to go into a game with and that keeps my mind clear.

“If they change on the go I have to adjust on the go, but I know what I have to do during the week and if I tick them off it makes me confident for the game.”