Fans of the NRL are eager to see how Ryan Papenhuyzen fares in his new role as a commentator after being named part of Channel 7's broadcast team for the World Cup. The 28-year-old previously played 113 matches for the Melbourne Storm before making the surprising decision to retire at the end of last season.
He has embarked on a new journey as a golf caddie and is also exploring opportunities in media. On Wednesday, Channel 7 revealed that Papenhuyzen will contribute to their coverage during the World Cup taking place in October and November.
The broadcast team will include Andrew Voss, Andrew Moore, Anthony Maroon, Drury Forbes, and Beaven Dewar as the primary game callers. Hosting duties will be handled by Matt White, Mel McLaughlin, and Corey Parker. Sideline reporters will be Katie Brown, Jelisa Apps, Charlie White, David Riccio, and Peter Badel, with Papenhuyzen joining Trent Robinson, Luke Keary, and others as an expert commentator.
This will be Papenhuyzen's first return to the league since retiring. Reactions on social media were largely positive, with fans excited to see and hear from him. One user expressed, "Great news about Paps," while another noted, "Miss you at the Storm."
Although Papenhuyzen has consistently stated that he has no intentions of returning to the league, speculation about his future persists. Recently, the Bulldogs were rumored to be a potential destination, but Papenhuyzen quickly dismissed those claims. "I just don't know where people keep getting it from," he stated on the '167Podcast' he co-hosts with Storm teammates Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes. "I'm just not playing footy again."
When he announced his retirement, Papenhuyzen cited concussions as a reason for prioritizing his long-term health but mentioned he is interested in participating in touch footy at the State Cup level. "I've got to try and get back into some running," he said. "But just a pre-warning, yes it's all for touch footy. I want to play State Cup by the end of the year."