‘I’m proud of who I am’: Xavier Coates responds to online trolls as high-flying winger encourages Ryan Papenhuyzen to stay at the Storm

Kangaroos winger Xavier Coates has opened up on the abuse he copped on social media for his decision to represent Australia over Papua New Guinea, with the high-flying star also sending a message to Storm teammate Ryan Papenhuyzen that everyone at the club would love him to re-sign.

Papenhuyzen is off contract at the end of the 2025 season and is already free to negotiate with rival clubs, with reports he’s knocked back an offer from the Storm worth about $750,000 a year.

That would be less than he’s on now, with the fullback putting a horror run of injuries behind him to play 20 games this season – the most he’s played since 2020 when he won the title with the Storm and the Clive Churchill Medal.

The Storm would love to keep him but they already have livewire fullback Sua Fa’alogo signed until the end of the 2028 season, with clubs monitoring the situation whichever way it plays out.

“I haven’t really spoken to Paps yet, but everyone knows he’s wanted at the Storm,” Coates said after Australia’s Pacific Cup win over Tonga.

“He can choose whatever he wants to do, but he’s a really talented player and we’d love to have him at the Storm.

“Whatever he chooses to do, everyone will back his decision.”

That same sentiment didn’t apply to Coates when he decided to play for the Kangaroos over PNG, with the speedster copping horrible abuse online.

The vitriol was completely unjustified for a young man who was born in Port Moresby but moved to Queensland when he was a child before he went on to play for PNG in 2019.

The Kumuls were keen for him to play for them again, but Coates was selected by Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga and played all three matches for Australia on the wing.

He scored his first try in the green and gold jersey in Sunday’s final and almost grabbed another with a diving effort late, with the winger more than comfortable with his decision to play for Australia.

“I’m proud of who I am,” he said after a big year that included playing in the grand final for Melbourne.

“I know I’ve copped a fair bit of backlash for representing Australia, but I get to represent my dad’s side of the family. I grew up on the Gold Coast and played my junior footy here and played my junior footy with Burleigh.

“It’s a really proud achievement for me to say I’ve played for the Kangaroos because I’m just as proud of my Australian culture as I am of my PNG culture.

“Everyone has got their own judgment, but I’m proud of who I am. I don’t need other people’s opinions to satisfy who I am.

“I’m just really proud to have come into this camp and performed the way we did as a group to get the win.

“People can say what they want. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but I know who I am and that’s not going to change.”