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Ryan Papenhuyzen is targeting a return to competition through touch football while continuing his new career as a touring golf caddie.
Former NRL premiership winner Ryan Papenhuyzen has indicated he is considering a return to competitive football, though not in rugby league as many expected.
The 27-year-old stepped away from the NRL last year, leaving the Melbourne Storm to prioritise his long-term health after a series of serious head knocks.
Since his exit, Papenhuyzen has shifted focus to golf, working as a caddie for Australian player Daniel Gale on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and the DP World Tour's secondary circuit.
However, he acknowledged on the 167 podcast, during a conversation with former teammate Cameron Munster, that his competitive instincts remain.
Papenhuyzen said touch football was the most realistic avenue for a return, ruling out both rugby league and rugby union despite past links to alternative competitions.
He identified playing in the State Cup later this year as a primary objective, adding that he had already spoken with a coach about the possibility.
He noted, however, that his growing commitments in golf could complicate those plans. Papenhuyzen is currently travelling on tour with Gale, with upcoming events in the Middle East and Europe expected to occupy much of his schedule.
His transition into golf has included appearances at events such as the LIV Adelaide Pro-Am in February, along with a recent stint refining his skills at Tara Iti in New Zealand.
While he plays off a handicap of around 11, Papenhuyzen suggested his value as a caddie lies less in technical expertise and more in his experience as a former elite athlete.
He explained that exposure to high-performance environments in rugby league had helped him adjust to the mental demands of golf, easing early doubts about his place in the sport.
Papenhuyzen added that while he may not fit the mould of a traditional caddie, he believes his perspective offers a different kind of contribution.