2020 Clive Churchill medallist and Melbourne Storm superstar, Ryan Papenhuyzen, is officially not on an NRL roster.
While his move is set to have implications for both himself and the league as a whole, perhaps the most impacted party of the entire debacle is the Storm, who have now freed a mountain of cash in the wake of Papenhuyzen's departure.
With close to $1 million off the club's books heading into 2026, the Storm have just found themselves in one of the best situations in the entire NRL, with momentum building off the back of two consecutive Grand Final appearances.
Following the departure of a star fullback comes the dilemma of who will fill the No. 1 jersey.
Luckily for the Storm, they have no such dilemma.
Sua Fa'alogo, one of the brightest young stars in the country, slots straight into the fullback spot for the Storm, with very little competition for his role.
The young gun is so talented, there was a time when the Storm were considering granting him the role ahead of Papenhuyzen, despite being five years his junior.
With the Samoan talent locked in at the Storm until the end of 2028 and Nick Meaney proving to be a reliable backup, the club has very little to worry about in regards to replacing Papenhuyzen.
His hefty salary is also a welcome absence in the Storm's cap, with the club eyeing a potential big fish to welcome into the club ranks.
Or potentially, welcome back.
Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Gold Coast Titans skipper and former Storm forward, has admitted he will be testing the market, despite being in the midst of a monster contract with his current club.
While he was already linked with a return to the Storm before Papenhuyzen's departure, many believed the QLD Maroons star would need to take a hefty pay cut to do so.
However, that argument has since become moot, with a mountain of cash freed up for the Storm, and that's without mentioning the money saved after releasing Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
If Fa'asuamaleaui does make his way back to the Storm, it could be argued that the club has replaced their fullback with a youngster of equal, if not potentially more, talent, as well as bringing in the most impactful forward in the NRL not named Payne Haas.
Papenhuyzen and fellow Storm teammate Jonah Pezet's departures have also ensured the commitment of Cameron Munster, who will not seek a release despite reports indicating interest in the Perth Bears.
While many fans on social media have celebrated the "downfall of the Melbourne Storm," haters must be warned not to jump the gun too quickly.
Because with a treasure trove of cash, a star replacement at fullback, and back-to-back Grand Final appearances, we may be seeing yet another Storm dynasty in the making.
