LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
According to reports from the Sydney Morning Herald, NRL club Melbourne Storm is allegedly shopping around Ryan Papenhuyzen to clear the path for promising young fullback Sualauvi Faalogo.
Papenhuyzen, a fan favorite, has struggled with injuries in recent years, leading the Storm hierarchy to put their faith in Faalogo's potential.
The Storm is said to have already started working on doubling Faalogo's pay and upgrading him to the club's top 30 for the 2024 season.
However, Melbourne's general manager, Frank Ponissi, has reportedly downplayed the suggestion that Papenhuyzen is being shopped to rival clubs.
Third parties are often involved in contract negotiations to maintain distance between clubs and potential discussions.
Despite Papenhuyzen's absence, the Storm has other fullback options in Faalogo and Nick Meaney, who impressed as a replacement.
Melbourne is reportedly looking to strengthen its forward pack for the upcoming season and may need to free up salary cap space to do so.
Faalogo, who made his Test debut for Samoa against Australia, had an impressive performance, showcasing his skills with 63 meters gained, 11 tackle busts, an offload, and a linebreak.