The Queensland Maroons coach could be thrust into a tricky dilemma.
Ryan Papenhuyzen’s scintillating start to the NRL season has renewed calls for him to be handed a State of Origin debut in 2025. And it could mean a gesture from Billy Slater and wife Nicole comes back to bite the Queensland coach.
Papenhuyzen has returned to his brilliant best to start this year, and appears to have added a yard of speed after a horror run of injuries. The fullback has been carving up opposition teams and cashing in on some dominant play from halves Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster.
Michael Maguire hinted before the 2024 Origin series that Papenhuyzen was in contention to debut for the Blues, and the popular theory was he might have found himself in a bench utility role. But another ill-timed injury ruined that dream, and Papenhuzen’s wait for a sky blue jersey went on.
But four games into the 2025 season, the fullback looks as ready as ever to play Origin footy. If Dylan Edwards holds his spot as the starting No.1, new coach Laurie Daley could easily look to hand Papenhuyzen the No.14 jersey to wreak havoc through the middle off the bench.
It would be a similar role to what Slater did with Kalyn Ponga in Game 3 last year, or the way the Maroons utilised Matty Bowen back in the day running at tired forwards. Papenhuyzen could also play in the backline as injury cover, which might become vitally important if Tom Trbojevic is picked at centre or wing.
Ryan Papenhuyzen could take down mentor Billy Slater
There’s also a chance that Daley could prefer a utility like Connor Watson or Tyran Wishart, who would be able to play dummy-half as well as in the backline. If Papenhuyzen continues his fine form and does get picked for NSW, it would pit him against long-term mentor and ‘big brother’ figure Slater.
Papenhuyzen has previously credited Slater for keeping him on track – physically and mentally – when he endured a terrible run of injuries. He shattered his kneecap in 2022, and then broke his lower leg in just his third game back at the end of 2023.
He was sidelined for months as he recovered, and throughout it all it was Slater and his family who wrapped their arms around Papenhuyzen and made sure he was ok. Papenhuyzen is originally from Sydney, but describes the Slaters as his second family in Melbourne.
Billy and wife Nicole have invited him to stay in their family home on multiple occasions, and Papenhuyzen is forever grateful. “The Slaters are the closest thing I have to a family down here (in Melbourne). I’m like an older brother to their kids, and I even have my own bedroom now. Going to their farm, it’s an outlet,” he said last year.
“Billy has been awesome. I am where I am now because of him. He went through such a long-term injury himself and understands how tough it is, but him and Nicole would invite me over to their place and we would just have a day out where we would not talk about footy. He understood the mental side of rehab and how you need to switch off sometimes and enjoy the company of others. I am just really grateful to them.
“He is unbelievable. I am forever in debt to him. He has helped me through the whole ordeal. He reached out about how important it is to have someone else (helping) while you are not playing, to keep your mind simulated. It is just special to have someone like him at the club who wants to give back so much.”
There’s no suggestion Slater will regret the help he’s given Papenhuyzen if it comes back to bite him at State of Origin level. But it will prove an interesting little sub-plot if Papenhuyzen is picked to make his Origin debut as helps the Blues beat Slater’s Maroons.
