The Melbourne Storm are suddenly on the lookout for a new fullback after confirmation Ryan Papenhuyzen had been granted an immediate release from his contract .

While there is a clear replacement in waiting at the club already, with Sua Fa’alogo contracted until the end of the 2028 season, it is still a major change considering Papehuyzen had established himself as a foundational piece in Melbourne since making his NRL debut in 2019.

Here, looks at the burning questions to come out of Thursday’s big development, from what it means for both Papenhuyzen and Melbourne to where he could land in 2026. Grand Final NRL Oct 05 7:30pm AEST FT Storm 22 Broncos 26 MATCH CENTRE *Odds are current as of 30th October 2025, 1:06pm AEST VIEW ALL SCORES WHAT'S GAMBLING REALLY CO

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