Bellamy pushes Papenhuyzen for Origin call

Papenhuyzen claimed the Anzac Medal for his stand-out performance in his team's 70-10 thrashing of the Warriors on Monday night in Melbourne.

The 23-year-old is already on the radar of NSW selectors, who picked him in the squad for the end of year series in 2020.

He was tipped to land the bench utility role after a sensational grand final performance which earned him the Clive Churchill Medal, but was ruled out before the first game with a calf injury.

Last year he was sidelined through the series with debilitating concussion symptoms after a severe head knock in Magic Round.

While incumbent fullback and NSW skipper James Tedesco can't be dislodged, Bellamy plumped for Papenhuyzen to get a call-up again.

"I'd love to see him in there and I think he deserves to be there," Bellamy said.

"Tedesco has been one hell of a player for NSW and we're aware of how many great fullbacks we've got eligible to play for NSW.

"It's up to the selectors but the one thing I will say is that he can't do any more than what he's doing to keep knocking on the door.

"And hopefully he'll get a start there at some stage."

Papenhuyzen said he hadn't thought too much about Origin selection and was focused on doing his best for the Storm.

"I'm at a pretty special club here where you feel valued, regardless of whatever teams you make and that's what I'm pretty grateful for," he said.

"I haven't really thought too much about Origin to be fair, and it's probably a good thing.

"You play good footy and you get picked in those sides, but I'm in a good footy team at the moment and valued here and love this team so that's what I'm focusing on."

Papenhuyzen spent 10 weeks of the 2021 season on the sidelines with concussion symptoms and a neck injury and said putting on more weight in the off-season had helped with his confidence.

With his second try against the Warriors he fended off one player and then burst through the remaining defence to score.

"It just gives me a bit more confidence I think," he said.

"I just let it naturally happen and I'm a bit older now, a few more years in this system and knowing what it's all about, and just getting into a routine.

"So with all of that a little bit of weight gain helped."

Australian Associated Press