Melbourne Storm star Ryan Papenhuyzen is just 26 and has been to hell and back twice to get back on the football field – but he would reveal all in a moment if he received any dreaded medical advice.
The NRL performer has been stripped of valuable football over the past two seasons, first suffering a broken kneecap in 2022 and then suffering a serious compound fracture in the 2023 finals that put his career in jeopardy.
He’s back to full fitness and ready to help the Storm challenge for a fourth NRL premiership, but there’s another medical issue bothering the enigmatic defender – concussion.
Prior to his serious injuries, Papenhuyzen missed 10 rounds due to lingering impacts from concussion after St George Illawarra’s Tyrell Fuimaono knocked him out in the Magic Round.
Papenhuyzen reacts after being injured during the NRL qualifying final between the Brisbane Broncos and the Melbourne Storm.
The Storm defender had to work tirelessly to recover from a fractured kneecap, and this x-ray shows the extent of the damage.
Papenhuyzen’s career has been marked by injury setbacks, including concussions and serious leg injuries.
Speaking on The Howie Games podcast with media personality Mark Howard, Papenhuyzen has made some surprising revelations about his future in the game due to that period on the sidelines and the impact of the concussion.
In recent years, the NRL has lost players such as Paul Green and Bulldogs great Steve Folkes to the effects of concussion-related chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) on the field.
Former players, including Wally Lewis, Mark ‘Spudd’ Carroll and Robbie O’Davis, have been diagnosed with suspected CTE or have shown symptoms.
On the podcast, Howard asked Papenhuyzen, ‘Are you worried about what this (CTE) could potentially do to you?’
“Yeah…well, my grandfather passed away with dementia,” the Storm defender said.
“I enjoy what I do now, I really enjoy the platform. I have to be able to share my messages, be able to share my stories and be on TV every week to convey that.”
‘But at the same time I suppose (developing CTE) is a possibility.
“I try to do things off the field a little differently to reduce the risk of that happening. I don’t drink too much, I don’t do drugs.
“I know there’s probably a correlation between this and CTE as well.”
Papenhuyzen won the Clive Churchill Medal during the 2020 grand final against Penrith but has struggled to stay on the park since.
That’s when Papenhuyzen dropped the bombshell that he would quit rugby league if there was solid medical advice suggesting he was at risk of developing CTE.
‘What do you sacrifice to have that? I have a great life right now. I feel that I have prepared well and I hope that in the future there will be a cure that can solve it,” he stated.
‘If it gets to a point where I feel it’s harmful, I would happily walk away. I have bigger goals in life and obviously one day I would like to start a family.
‘I would like to be able to go to the field and play cricket with the boy or girl, whoever it is.
“And yes, I have aspirations to be more than a football player.”
So I think there ever comes a point where I feel like, I guess, I’m not ready to play anymore. I will go away.
“And whether it’s with the head or the body, that’s just one of those things that I feel like you have to be okay with.”
Storm fullback aware high throws could put him at risk for CTE in the future
Papenhuyzen has spared no effort in his recovery from a career-threatening compound fracture.
The Melbourne Storm star even funded his own trip to the United States to help with his rehabilitation and recovery.
Papenhuyzen said that decision had been influenced by NRL players who had recently retired prematurely from the sport in a bid to protect themselves from the development of CTE.
Former Sydney Roosters captain Boyd Cordner was hailed as a role model for his decision to quit rugby league in 2021 after repeated concussions when he was just 29 years old.
Roosters teammate Keegan Hipgrave announced his immediate retirement from rugby league on 12 November 2021 when he was just 24 years old.
Nathan Friend became the third Chook to retire in the same season after approximately 20 concussions throughout his career.
Sydney Roosters captain Boyd Cordner tearfully retired from the NRL aged 29 after a series of concussions (pictured)
Cowboys first-place finisher Lachlan Coote (right) was also forced to retire due to head injuries suffered during his football career.
Former North Queensland Cowboys premiership-winning fullback Lachlan Coote has retired with immediate effect mid-season in 2023 after a series of concussions over the previous two seasons.
And Eels forward Andrew Davey also retired in October 2023, aged just 31, following the advice of medical experts.
“Unfortunately there are people who have had to step away from the game and I have great respect for them because I know how difficult it would be,” Papenhuyzen said.
‘Giving up your entire life, really, what you’ve known for the last 30 years for some, to enter a new realm to improve your body, is a huge sacrifice and there is a lot to give away.
“But I guess if you have goals and aspirations to do things in the future and you feel like that’s going to hurt you, then I think that’s a huge move and something that people will think about a lot more seriously.” now.’