Ryan Papenhuyzen has declared his body is feeling as good as ever, after paying close to $40,000 out of his own pocket to fly to the USA in a bid to end his horror run of injuries.
Papenhuyzen made a statement on his return from a badly broken and dislocated right ankle on Thursday night, scoring a try in Melbourne's 24-12 pre-season loss to Canterbury.
Running at full flight, the Melbourne No.1 sprinted onto a Jonah Pezet first-tackle kick to cap off a 40-minute return at Belmore Oval for an understrength Storm.
Papenhuyzen would have been forgiven for being nervous ahead of Thursday's return.
He has played only six games since shattering his right patella in July 2022, while his 2021 season was hampered by concussion and other injuries.
But the 25-year-old is adamant he is well on the way to returning to full fitness.
"Body-wise I feel really good. Rocking up to captain's run yesterday it's the best I've felt since … I can't even remember," Papenhuyzen said.
"Body, mentally, everything. I'm really refreshed, really excited to play footy again.
"I feel really quick, my top speed I recorded in 2018, I've hit 94 per cent of that. Back then I was 60 kilos and now I'm 83.
"Whether that's my new top speed or not, I don't know. But I feel really confident I can hit it now. It's just nice."
Papenhuyzen said he also felt no mental barriers over going into contact.
While questions had lingered over his ability to maintain his electric speed, all of Papenhuyzen's major injuries have come in heavy body-on-body contact.
The Wests Tigers junior has spent the past two summers working with renowned rehabilitation expert Bill Knowles in the United States, footing the bill for the trip himself last December.
In two weeks of one-on-one training, Knowles not only worked on Papenhuyzen's recovery from the ankle injury but also on being proactive with body positioning to avoid injuries.
Factoring in flights, accommodation, car hire and the work itself, Papenhuyzen estimates the trip cost him close to $40,000.
He has no doubt it was worth every cent, given the 2020 Clive Churchill medallist's drive to return to his best.
The fullback spent extra time back at the Storm over Christmas, taking only three days off over the holiday period to try and get back up to speed with his football.
It left him entering Thursday's trial with no concerns over contact, making four tackles and half-a-dozen hit-ups.
"It didn't take me long to realise I'm fine, I'm good to go," Papenhuyzen said.
"You do so much at training, and at training (the defenders) are fresher. In a game you have fatigue.
"I knew once I did contact back at training I'd be OK, so there was no hesitation. I just wanted to get out there and get my hands on the footy."
