Fittler: 'Paps' cannot be ignored
Ryan Papenhuyzen on the bench for the Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues? Brad Fittler says he cannot be ignored.
James Tedesco has a mortgage on the NSW No.1 jersey, but Papenhuyzen has been nothing short of electric for the past couple of years and has donned the sky blue in the junior Origin games.
Fittler believes that Papenhuyzen’s time playing in different positions since his debut last year can work in his favour to earn a Blues jersey.
“The role that he plays for the Melbourne Storm is a coach’s dream,” Fittler said on Five with Freddy.
“He’s played in the middle, he’s played at fullback, he’s played a few different positions since his debut last year.
“He’s been electric for the Storm and if he played like he did last week it’s going to be hard to overlook him.”
The game Fittler is referring to was his performance against the Newcastle Knights where he turned Kalyn Ponga inside-out and put on the afterburners for one of the solo tries of the year.
The NRL’s inclusion of the new six-again rule that has sped the game up also works in Papenhuyzen’s favour.
“He suits the way the game of Rugby League is going at the moment,” Fittler said.
“Having footballers that are dangerous at the backend of games or halves seems to be working really well.”
“That’s exactly what ‘Paps’ would bring to a team.”