Former Melbourne Storm star Ryan Papenhuyzen has revealed he has had thoughts about retirement as early as 2022, after a nasty head knock the year prior.
The livewire fullback suffered a fair share of injuries in the backend of his career, and has overcome plenty of setbacks to return to the field.
Following the closure of the 2025 Grand Final, Papenhuyzen called time on his short but illustrious stint as an NRL player.
It was the concussion at Magic Round in 2021 that really became a turning point in his rugby league journey, and spent 10 weeks on the sidelines after lingering symptoms persisted.
"I'd probably been internalising the thoughts since 2022, to be fair," Papenhuyzen said on Channel 7's Unfiltered with Ryan Papenhuyzen. which will air at 10:30pm on Thursday evening.
"I remember going through my notes (journals), and I remember going back and just reading like, okay, start to plan for post (NRL), like what's your purpose outside of footy?
"And just like started asking those questions, but nothing sort of ever tipped me over the edge enough to make the decision. And I was always sort of held back."
Papenhuyzen then suffered a retched run of injuries during 2022, seriously derailing his NRL campaign where the thoughts of retirement started to creep in.
With his NRL debut coming in 2019, only three years prior, it's clear to understand the impact severe injuries can possess.
Papenhuyzen suffered a hamstring and PCL knee injury in May that year, before fracturing his kneecap upon return in July.
He collided with Jack Wighton as the last line of defence, with scans revealing a fracture in ten places.
After successfully making his return, then suffering more fractures and concussions, the 28-year-old had made his decision following the Storm's 2025 Grand Final loss.
"I think the head knock in 2021 was like a realisation. 2022 was like, why is this happening? What's going on here?" The 2020 Clive Churchill Medallist added.
"So there was part of me having that thought going into the NRL grand final, I told mum and dad and a couple of close mates around me, I said like, 'I'm having a year off next year, regardless if we win, if we lose, I'm having a year off.'
"So sort of half made a decision in my mind. Then grand final day, I was like, 'If we win, I reckon I'm certainly done. If we lose, I wonder if there'll be this redemption. I want to get back and I want to play again.'
"But as soon as the whistle went, and we'd lost, I was like, 'I'm done.'"
Papenhuyzen concedes he regretted the way he addressed his retirement to his Storm teammates.
"I don't think I navigated it the best way, to be honest," he admitted.
"I think I told the boys by messaging WhatsApp. I didn't face the group.
Certainly after the grand final, I was like, 'I want to sit with it for a few more days and see if it is the right decision.'
"But I messaged the boys through WhatsApp group. I didn't call the coach beforehand. It was sort of just a secret thing between me, my manager and my family.
"Then I wish I'd handled it a bit differently. But I guess it was me trying to avoid a bit of conflict or I'm not sure what would have come out of it."
Papenhuyzen is now enjoying his time travelling the globe and playing golf, while also keeping in touch with the 13-man code through his 167 podcast hosted with former teammates Jarome Hughes and Cameron Munster.
He will also appear on the broadcast team for the upcoming World Cup, with his addition looming as a fan-favourite among rugby league supporters.
The entire Unfiltered with Ryan Papenhuyzen airs on Thursday night at 10:30pm on Channel Seven.
