It was Forrest Gump who said that life was like a box of chocolates.
asserted
life → say → chocolates
Ryan Papenhuyzen prefers a different analogy.
asserted
Papenhuyzen → prefer → analogy
“Golf’s just like the game of life, I reckon,” he says.
asserted
he → ’ → life
“You go through your journey of bad shots, but if you don’t respond to it well, then it’s going to be two bad shots, and it just compounds.
asserted
it → go → it
It’s four hours of pretty much living out what I know life to be at the moment at 28 years old.
asserted
life → ’ → moment
This time last year, Papenhuyzen was in the thick of grand final week, preparing for what would be his last game of rugby league in the decider against the Brisbane Broncos.
asserted
what → prepare → Broncos
Today, the former Melbourne Storm fullback, a grand final winner and Clive Churchill Medallist in 2020, is standing on the first tee box at Wollongong Golf Club.
asserted
fullback → stand → Club
And he’s keen to set the record straight.
asserted
he → ’ → record
Yes, Papenhuyzen is definitely retired.
asserted
Papenhuyzen → retire → ?
Yes, he turned down a million-dollar contract with the Storm at the peak of his powers to do things like play golf – he’s playing off a handicap of 11 on this day – and work out what makes him happy.
asserted
him → turn → day
No, he has no plans to play another minute of footy.
asserted
he → have → footy
“No regrets,” Papenhuyzen says.
asserted
Papenhuyzen → say → regrets
“I learned everything I needed to learn out of rugby league.
asserted
I → learn → league
“I achieved success quite early on.
asserted
I → achieve → success
I feel like I lived out both ends of the spectrum.
asserted
I → feel → spectrum
As the year’s gone, I just have no drive or want to get back in that arena.”
asserted
I → go → arena
A sure sign Papenhuyzen has found other hobbies in his 12 months out of the game is that he knows his 10-digit Golf ID number off by heart when asked for it at the pro shop.
The golf course was Papenhuyzen’s choice of setting for an interview.
asserted
course → find → interview
The coastal track overlooks WIN Stadium, the home of the St George Illawarra Dragons, and the sand of Wollongong City Beach.
asserted
track → overlook → Beach
Turns out Papenhuyzen is staying with his girlfriend’s family in nearby Bulli.
asserted
Papenhuyzen → turn → Bulli
“What is Ryan Papenhuyzen doing here?” an onlooker from the next fairway can be heard asking.
asserted
onlooker → do → fairway
As the Roosters and Knights gear up for Sunday’s decider, one of the most exciting rugby league players of his generation is at peace with his decision to walk away from the game.
asserted
one → gear → game
Many assumed he would pivot to Japanese rugby or sign with R360, before the rebel competition’s demise.
asserted
he → assume → demise
Instead, he has spent his spare time caddying for Australian golfer Daniel Gale and coaching a handful of clients on the art of mental performance.
asserted
he → spend → performance
Explaining that decision has not been as straightforward as he expected.
asserted
he → explain → decision
“People just don’t believe it,” Papenhuyzen says.
asserted
Papenhuyzen → believe → it
“Maybe it’s the concept of walking away from a million dollars.
asserted
it → ’ → dollars
[People think] why would you give that money up?
asserted
you → think → money
“It all makes sense in my head.
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It → make → head
When I hear people are surprised about it, it just makes me think about the illusion [people see] with professional sport.
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people → hear → sport
“People will work all week, and they’ll sit and watch the footy, and it’s their joy of the week.
asserted
it → work → week
A lot of people wish that they could be in that position.
uncertain
they → wish → position
But there are things that come with it.
asserted
that → be → it
You’re putting your body through probably the hardest thing you’ll ever go through physically.
asserted
you → put → thing
You’re tied to certain things.
asserted
You → tie → things
You lose your anonymity.
asserted
You → lose → anonymity
You’ve got someone watching you.
asserted
someone → get → you
You go out in public and people want to talk to you.
asserted
people → go → you
“It’ll sound really ungrateful, but it’s more about understanding what comes with it.
asserted
what → sound → it
Just because you’re good at it doesn’t mean you need to do it.
asserted
you → ’re → it
Find something that aligns more to how you want to live your life.
asserted
you → find → life
…and 50 more, not listed.
The Aporia
