Melbourne Storm sensation Ryan Papenhuyzen is hoping to put in a blistering performance when he meets the Parramatta Eels on Saturday night.ย
The 22-year-old fullback who has scored 16 tries for the Storm revealed that the Eels overlooked signing him due to his size, despite representing the Australian touch football team at the age of 17.ย
"That is what happened at Parra early on,โ he told The Australian.ย
โI remember I was in a touch footy side and playing for Parra. One of the dads was friends with the (Parramatta) recruitment guy and he wanted them to pick me up, but their thing was that I was always too small.
โAlthough I made a couple of rep sides when I was a kid, there was still that doubt in my mind, when people tell you that you are too small.
โYouโve just got to keep adding to your skill-set and give it a crack and thatโs something Iโd like to show to all those little blokes out there that get told they are too small, that itโs not over and to just play tough.
โIf you play tough there is no reason that they canโt pick you. Generally if you do that then you can make any side.โ
Thankfully the Storm saw what he could do on a rugby pitch and signed up the fullback, who has made 39 appearances and has represented Australia in the World Nines tournament.ย
