That is the view of Storm's general manager of football Frank Ponissi, who has been by Papenhuyzen's side as the player has ridden the ups and downs of his short career.
There were grave fears for the 2020 premiership winner's playing future when Papenhuyzen was taken from the field with a broken ankle during August's 32-22 win over the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.Â
A broken right ankle brought a premature end to Papenhuyzen's 2023 season with the Storm. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)
As well as his physical rehabilitation, the 25-year-old has shown great resilience to return to his best this season, with his electrifying speed a feature of his stellar form.
On Thursday night at AAMI Park he will once again be integral to the Storm's hopes when they host the Broncos.
Last year's setback was not the fullback's first.Â
In 2021, Papenhuyzen missed 11 games with complications following a concussion.
The following year he suffered a shattered right kneecap and was out of action for more than 12 months before 2023's mishap.
"We never lost belief in him. It was just how long it was going to take for him to get back to his best," Ponissi told AAP.
"It is just so pleasing that he has done it so early. Â
"It is absolute resilience, but the other thing that doesn't get mentioned with Paps is his mental toughness.Â
"After the 2020 grand final he got that bad concussion, then he got the knee injury and then the ankle
"That mental toughness doesn't get associated with Paps because he is a glamour player and speed player. It is all about the flashy things he does.
"But he is incredibly mentally tough to do what he has done and come back like he is."
Ponissi said the Storm's 30-26 win over the Warriors in round two had Papenhuyzen's fingerprints all over it.Â
The final try by Xavier Coates in the corner was one for the ages, but Papenhuyzen had moments earlier burst into a tiny gap with speed to burn to make the final play possible.
Match Highlights 🎥: — NRL (@NRL) #NRLStormWarriors A stunning last gasp Xavier Coates try snatched an unlikely win for Melbourne and continued a 10-year hoodoo against the Storm for a shellshocked Warriors outfit. pic.twitter.com/SD37u25mXzMarch 16, 2024
"Quite correctly, Xavier Coates has been getting all the accolades for one of the greatest finishes anyone has seen in a long, long time," Ponissi said. Â
"But if you dissect that game, with us down by eight points with three minutes to go, the win was on the back of Ryan Papenhuyzen.
"He scored the first try and in the plays leading up to the last try he really worried the hell out of the Warriors defence with his speed.Â
"Ryan put us in position with his try and he put Xavier in that position with what he was doing at the back.Â
"Xavier deserved every credit he got but people lost sight of what Paps did to put Xavier in that remarkable position to score."
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