Former NRL star Ryan Papenhuyzen has publicly debuted his new relationship with Georgia Lewis, sharing a series of images on Instagram from a holiday in America. The former Melbourne Storm fullback's post included photos of him and Lewis embracing and enjoying sunny weather.
Papenhuyzen, who announced he was "practically retired" from the NRL in January, appeared to be in New York City when he shared the update. His former teammates reacted positively to the news, with Jahrome Hughes commenting "Love" and Jack Howarth posting "Wholesome stuff."
Papenhuyzen's previous public relationships include a romance with TikTok influencer Emma MacDonald, which he revealed in August 2024 with the caption "pookie era." He had previously alluded to the relationship in June of that year on the "Ausmerican Aces" podcast, stating, "Yeah boys, I don't live the single life any more." MacDonald later spoke about their "unexpected" split in May 2025, announcing her return to Sydney to focus on herself.
Before MacDonald, Papenhuyzen dated netball star Kelsey Browne for three years, with their relationship ending in 2022. The Clive Churchill Medal winner shocked the NRL by announcing his retirement from the game at age 27. He was granted a release by Melbourne in October 2025, with one year remaining on his contract. Papenhuyzen cited a head knock sustained in the final round of the 2025 regular season as a significant factor in his decision to step away from the sport, prioritizing his health and well-being.