Why Papenhuyzen’s retirement was no shock to Storm star

1 month ago 7

After suffering a broken hand, broken arm and dislocated shoulder last season, Jahrome Hughes knows what is required, physically and mentally, for an NRL player to keep braving the pain.

So when his long-time Melbourne Storm teammate Ryan Papenhuyzen revealed in a podcast this week that “I think I’m retired” - as opposed to merely taking a year off - Hughes understood better than most how and why he reached that decision.

Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes and his former teammate Ryan Papenhuyzen.

“I’ve been pretty close with ‘Paps’ and I’ve seen what he’s been through,” Hughes said.

“All the injuries, and then the mental stuff he had to go through, I know it can take a toll on people.

“I’ve seen that during the year. And although I was, I guess, surprised that he did retire, I probably knew it was the right thing for him ... He just seems really happy, so that’s the best thing for him.”

When 27-year-old Papenhuyzen announced after last season’s grand final loss to Brisbane that he was taking time out, he was immediately linked to the proposed R360 competition, which has since been deferred until 2028, at the earliest. There was also speculation that he might have been a marquee signing for the Perth Bears when they enter the NRL in 2027.

Jahrome Hughes after dislocating his shoulder against the Roosters last season.

But Hughes had an inkling Papenhuyzen, who started privately querying the “cost” of continuing to play rugby league after suffering a head knock in last year’s finals, might not be back.

“I knew in my heart that he looked like he would retire,” Hughes said.

“I’m not sure if he will stay retired. After a year, he might re-evaluate things. But for now, I think the best thing for him would be probably to stay retired. He’s got a lot of other things that he’s looking at doing.”

Hughes hasn’t yet reached the same point as Papenhuyzen, despite his injuries.

Ryan Papenhuyzen has suffered some horrific injuries and concussions during his NRL career.

The 2024 Dally M gold medallist was sidelined for one game last year after breaking his hand in March. When he then dislocated his shoulder in July, there were fears he would be out for the rest of the season, but he missed five weeks.

Next, he broke his arm in September, prompting surgeons to insert a titanium plate and screws as reinforcement, but was back 22 days later to play in the preliminary final, followed by the decider, scoring a try in each game.

“It’s just ticking all the boxes I need to, and getting through, training-wise, what I felt like I needed to get through,” Hughes said.

“So being able to gain confidence from training, and obviously having the physio and the medical team help me get where I needed to be, it gave me confidence going into the games. And so I felt pretty good when I was playing.”

Jahrome Hughes scored a try in Melbourne’s grand final defeat.

Broken bones heal. Broken hearts are another matter, and Hughes and his teammates have vowed to move on after the shattering disappointment of losing back-to-back grand finals.

“It hurts obviously, making the grand final and not going all the way,” he said.

The arm guard worn by Jahrome Hughes in last season’s preliminary final and grand final.

“But I think you’ve just got to learn from it and then move on. I think if you hold on to it for too long the wrong way, it can really eat you inside.

“For myself personally and others in the team, we’ve just taken our learnings from it, and we’ll just use it as motivation going into next season.”

After the departure of Papenhuyzen and enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona, who is pursuing a professional boxing career, parlayed into the concussion-enforced absence of back-rower Eliesa Katoa, the Storm’s “next man up” mentality will be tested like rarely in recent times.

“Obviously, it was tough to lose those guys,” Hughes said.

“But we try not to look at who we don’t have as who we’ve got in our team. Ever since I’ve been at this club, we’ve done that.

“With injuries and stuff, we’re not going: ‘Damn, we don’t have them’.

“We look at who’s stepping into those spots, and let’s help them, use them to the best of our ability.

“The guys chasing those spots are hungry and fighting for those positions. And it’s really lifting our team.”

One player touted as a possible reinforcement is representative utility back Zac Lomax, who is embroiled in a legal dispute with Parramatta in an attempt to join the Storm.

“He’s a representative player,” Hughes said.

“And he’ll add quality to any team. So if that happens, I guess that’s a win for us.

“But, yeah, if he was to come here, that’s awesome. If not, so be it. We’re happy with who we’ve got at the moment as well.”