Melbourne Storm rookie Ryan Papenhuyzen likes to play what’s in front of him on the rugby league field but he likes strict routine before each NRL game.
And that includes his diet.
Papenhuyzen, who will line up for his first NRL preliminary final on Saturday night when the Storm take on Sydney Roosters at the SCG, shared his pre-game menu.
The exciting young fullback may be of Dutch descent but his pre-match preparation is all-Italian.
“It’s Hawaiian pizza with a barbecue base and I put pepperoni on it but take off most of the pineapple because I like just a little bit, not too much,” Papenhuyzen said.
“Then I have an ice cream.”
It’s coffee with his breakfast burger on game day and a large slice of lasagne for lunch as well as another serve for a pre-game snack.
“When I get a bit older and blow out in weight I’ll have to cut that back, but while I’m 80 kilograms and 21 I’m happy to do it,” he said.
Papenhuyzen, who grew up in Sydney before shifting to Melbourne to make his NRL debut this year, also admits he’s superstitious – which is a reason he can’t shave off his moustache.
“I’m due for a shave, but will keep the mo as it’s good luck,” Papenhuyzen said.
“I used to be a lot worse but now we’ve had some good results the past few weeks I want to keep those up.
“What I eat the night before, what I eat the morning of, the time I wake up – there is a lot, now I think of it.
“If everything goes wrong, then my ‘switch on’ when I get to the ground is when I take a shower, which is about an hour before the game.
“That’s my ‘game time, be ready’ cut off.”