Ryan Papenhuyzen came out of the blocks like a shot against the Tigers at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon, scoring the opening three tries of the game in just 17 minutes.
The Storm fullback came into the game in good form but no one was prepared for the impact he'd have on the opening stages of the contest.
Just three minutes in, Papenhuyzen, formerly in the Wests Tigers' development system, scored one of the tries of the season, grubbering through the defensive line before toeing it on with his left foot and beating the chasers to regather and get the ball down under significant pressure.
Ryan Papenhuyzen is a FREAK! 🤯#NRLStormTigers pic.twitter.com/qiFGPctDOi
— NRL (@NRL) May 11, 2025
Less than five minutes later, he helped to get Grant Anderson and Xavier Coates into space down the left before the winger swung back in field and found Papenhuyzen in support to streak away for a second.
The hat-trick was complete shortly after when Melbourne won possession from a short dropout (after Papenhuyzen kicked in behind), with Coates again the provider, changing directions before putting the number one through a gaping hole.
PAPENHUYZEN 🔥🔥🔥#NRLStormTigers pic.twitter.com/Uz2z6sOoNP
— NRL (@NRL) May 11, 2025
Unfortunately for the Tigers, it would get worse before half time as they went into the break down 34-0.
It was more of the same after the restart as Papenhuyzen and Anderson combined to put Coates through, who found his fullback on the inside for a fourth try of the match.
In the end Papenhuyzen finished with an NRL-era record of 36 points, as he booted 10 goals in 64-0 win.
While most of the discussion ahead of State of Origin has centred around the battle for the fullback spot between Dylan Edwards and James Tedesco, Papenhuyzen's form, which has seen him score 11 tries so far in 2025, will ensure he remains at the front of Laurie Daley's mind.