Former NRL star Ryan Papenhuyzen has delighted his former teammates by revealing he has found love with Georgia Lewis.
The former Melbourne Storm star posted a heartwarming series of pictures to Instagram showing him and his new partner enjoying a holiday in America.
One image shows the couple embracing and kissing with the word ‘love’ in the corner of the image, with another showing Lewis lying on her man as they soak up the sun in a park.
Papenhuyzen – who appeared to be in New York City when he made the post – didn’t leave a caption, and Lewis reacted with a playful kissing-face emoji.
The ex-fullback’s former teammates were over the moon with the news, with Dally M winner Jahrome Hughes responding with ‘Love’ and Jack Howarth commenting, ‘Wholesome stuff’.
Papenhuyzen’s other followers left messages like, ‘Lovely to see you so happy Pappy,’ ‘Awesome Paps, you look very happy, mate!’ and ‘Love always wins.’
Ryan Papenhuyzen has taken to social media to hard launch his new romance with Georgia Lewis (pictured)
The ex-Melbourne Storm star included these images in his post, which delighted some of his former teammates
Lewis and Papenhuyzen (pictured together from his post) appear to be enjoying a holiday in America
The footy star revealed his previous romance with TikTok influencer Emma MacDonald in August 2024, posting an image of the former couple to social media with the caption ‘pookie era’.
That June, Ryan let slip his relationship status while appearing on the Ausmerican Aces podcast with then-teammates Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes.
‘Yeah boys, I don’t live the single life any more,’ the 26-year-old fullback announced.
‘Is that exclusive?’ Cameron and Jahrome pressed, to which Ryan responded reluctantly, ‘Could be.’
In May last year, MacDonald opened up about her ‘unexpected’ split from Papenhuyzen as she revealed she was moving back to Sydney after following him to Melbourne.
‘Obviously it’s a big shock, it’s a big change, very unexpected, but I am so excited to be back in Sydney with my friends and family,’ she said in a TikTok video.
‘The way I look at it, it’s a good thing and a whole new chapter, where I can just focus on myself and grow by myself as a person.
‘If you guys have followed me, you might have noticed I feel like I’d lost my love and spark for social media.’
Papenhuyzen was previously with influencer Emma MacDonald (pictured together)
MacDonald revealed their split was ‘a big shock’ and ‘very unexpected’ in May last year
The Clive Churchill Medal winner also dated netball star Kelsey Browne (pictured together)
The winner of best on ground in the 2020 grand final also dated netball star Kelsey Browne for three years before their split in 2022.
Papenhuyzen was regarded as one of the biggest talents in the NRL when he shocked the league by announcing he was ‘practically retired’ from the game in January this year.
He’d been granted a release by Melbourne in October 2025, shortly after the team’s loss to Brisbane in the grand final, with one year to run on his contract.
The 28-year-old later explained he copped a head knock in the last round of the 2025 regular season that left him very emotional in the dressing room.
‘I don’t think I’ve ever really cried in front of you boys, but I was in the sheds trying to hide it,’ he told Hughes and Munster’s podcast.
‘In that moment it was kind of like, what am I doing? At what cost do you play footy for? I just had one of those moments.’
The head injury made him decide to stay sidelined for the 2026 season.
Papenhuyzen admitted he had been talking to the R360 rebel rugby union competition, but said the head knock made him realise ‘my health is something I really prioritise’.
He then announced, ‘I think I’m retired.’
