While he has rediscovered his jet shoes, Melbourne know they can count on Ryan Papenhuyzen for his cool head in the NRL grand final against Penrith.
Storm fans were rejoicing at the sight of Papenhuyzen showing his blistering pace off the mark in their preliminary final win, burning the Sydney Roosters defence for two tries as well as three line breaks and a try assist.
After a horror run of serious leg and ankle injuries, the 26-year-old fullback declared he was back at top speed and in the same form that brought him the 2020 Clive Churchill Medal as best player in Melbourne’s last grand final win, which came against Penrith.
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“Yeah, I think so,” he said of the return of his speed.
“Before that, probably I didn’t get too many opportunities to stretch out but on the weekend I did.
“I was confident that I’d done all the work to get back to this level and now I’m probably seeing the results of it.
“There’s times where you definitely do doubt it, but to be able to show it on the big stage and just be ready for that moment, it’s what all the hard work and sacrifice pays off for.
“I’ve hit top speeds at training so it’s been there, but it’s just trying to get those opportunities in games to get going.”
Considered one of the game’s big thinkers, Papenhuyzen has his social media littered with motivational quotes and is an avid reader.
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy lauded his ability to keep calm in the heat of the contest and said he shared similar attributes to retired great Cameron Smith.
“He’s the cooling influence for us to a degree,” Bellamy said.
“I wouldn’t say he’s a Cameron Smith for us, but he’s along that line, and when we need to cool things down a little bit, he’ll cool us down.”
Papenhuyzen felt he complemented the likes of fellow stars Harry Grant and Cameron Munster.
The trio, as well as Christian Welch, are the only players in the Storm line-up from their 2020 grand final triumph. Nelson Asofa-Solomona was also there but will miss this year’s match through suspension.
Papenhuyzen hoped his experience and perspective would help keep the team on task at Accor Stadium on Sunday night.
“I think the other boys in the spine are very instinctive players and wear their heart on their sleeve so I think that’s my role to just be a bit calm,” he said.
“I’m very calm because I’ve got so much trust in the side and in our game plan and I think it’s just reiterating that.
“At times during the game, it can get a bit hectic and emotions arise, especially in these bigger games, but if I can be the one to sort of calm it down and put in perspective, then you hope that’s infectious throughout the group.”
“I’ve always sort of been a calm person. I think what sort of helped me through my injuries was reading a lot about psychology and leadership.”