Why Storm Director hopes Papenhuyzen comes back to NRL

Melbourne Storm Director of Football Frank Ponissi has explained that they will not be rushing into any signings to try to fill the current gaps in their roster.

Following their second straight Grand Final loss, the Storm have seen their list change, having lost experience in Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Ryan Papenhuyzen, alongside rising star Jonah Pezet.

With these gaps, it has created speculation as to whether the Storm will be active in trying to fill their roster to go one better in 2026.

Currently, they have signed Newcastle prop Jack Hetherington and Penrith five-eighth Trent Toelau for the 2026 season.

But the veteran Director of Football believes that there are plenty of players within their own ranks who could help replace some of the depth lost.

“We’ve got a couple of spots still to go, but we’ve made the decision not to rush,” Ponissi told SEN Afternoons.

“We had some great players that missed out in the Grand Final last year. We’ve also got a number of young players. Our under-21s won the (Jersey Flegg) premiership, so a number of those players have been brought up to our top squad.

“So, it’s a lot younger squad than we have had for a while, but we still have a very strong senior list. (It’s) probably our depth that has been eroded more than anything else.”

Arguably, the biggest name that the club lost during the off-season was Papenhuyzen.

Having been released from his contract after the Grand Final, it was speculated that this was in relation to a potential move to join R360.

But with its delay until 2028, that appears unlikely.

Having been asked as to whether we’ll see the star fullback return to the league in 2027, Ponissi expressed that he hopes a year of rest might be what helps him return to the sport.

“I hope so, he’s got so much to offer,” he said.

“But in fairness to Paps, he’s gone through a fair bit over the last few years. When he came onto the scene, he hit the light straight away, and he got the Clive Churchill, best player on the ground in the 2020 Grand Final.

“But ever since then, really, he’s just had one injury after another and some serious injuries.

“He’s had some bad concussions, and he’s had a couple of bad leg injuries, an ankle and a bad knee injury.

“In the end, he’s come back remarkably well after each of those major injuries, but like anything, whilst he’s showed an enormous amount of resilience, the stress and everything it took to get through all those injuries and come back took its toll.

“Having a year off might be the tonic for him to come back and continue. He’s only 28 years of age, and he’s still got plenty left. If he reenergizes himself in 12 months, he might see him back, which would be a great thing for the game.”

The Storm will look to maintain their perfect opening round record under coach Craig Bellamy when they take on the Parramatta Eels to open their 2026 season.

The match will be played at their home ground, AAMI Park, on March 5.