New faces to help Storm reset in 2022: Papenhuyzen

Ryan Papenhuyzen has dismissed any concerns around the Storm's culture but concedes the pre-season is a perfect opportunity to "reset" after a high turnover of players.

Papenhuyzen was on deck to help announce the extension of major partners RedZed on Friday as the Storm look to put behind them a series of off-field incidents involving some of the club's biggest names.

Melbourne have also had a high turn-over of players with Josh Addo-Carr, Nicho Hynes, Dale Finucane, Brenko Lee, Aaron Booth, Max King and Aaron Pene joining rival clubs next season.

Brandon Smith and Felise Kaufusi have also announced they will be playing elsewhere in 2023 are leaving at the end of next season.

However, Xavier Coates, Nick Meaney, Josh King and rugby union recruit William Warbrick have moved to Melbourne, and Papenhuyzen is adamant the Storm can restore their reputation ahead of a likely return home after two seasons impacted by COVID-19.

"On the field when you start getting criticised it only motivates you to show how great you are of a club," Papenhuyzen said.

"I think it's no different [off the field] when the culture is in question, it makes you strip everything back and realise.

"We've really prided ourselves on being good people at the club and that's something we want to refresh to everyone this year.

"The guys who came 20 years ago playing in Melbourne weren't known and rugby league wasn't known. They put us on the map and we've got a standard to uphold now.

"We're privileged to do what we do but we still have to be out there and be good people. It's a timely reminder.

"I don't think the culture is in question, it's just about re-setting now and making sure we're doing the right thing in the community."

Papenhuyzen is looking forward to getting back into the groove of pre-season training after a disruptive 2021 campaign that included a two-month absence due to a concussion in Magic Round.

After a barnstorming 2020 season capped by the Storm fullback winning the Clive Churchill medal as player-of-the-match in the grand final defeat of Penrith, the 23-year-old said he had a lot more to learn in the game.

"It's something we work hard on at the Storm, you've always got something to improve," he said.

"Cameron Smith, when he came back every year, always had one thing to improve on.

"That just feeds through the club and that's part of the culture at the club.

"I'm looking at it no different. As long as I can stay on the training paddock in the pre-season it's a pretty good conversion rate to stay on the field in the season."

Meanwhile, Storm prop Jesse Bromwich is on track for the trials despite cleanout surgery on both elbows in the off-season.

"A bit of contact after Christmas is the plan," Bromwich said.

"I had some bone floating around that needed taking out, just cause through a long career in the front row.

"We had surgery planned earlier but I couldn't go in and get it done. I should be fine before round one."