NRL star Ryan Papenhuyzen has the best mullet in Melbourne sport, compared to the “not so good” AFL ace Bailey Smith do, Rich Ricci, owner of Melbourne Cup favourite Vauban says.
Ricci, who objects to his own questionable hairstyle being called a mullet, described Melbourne Storm fullback Papenhuyzen’s locks as “magic” at the Melbourne Cup Preview on Monday at Petanque Social.
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“I object to mullet, a mullet you have hair on top,” Ricci laughed.
“I don’t have any hair on top, I’ve just got it long (at the back).”
Asked to compare the Papenhuyzen and Smith mullets, the former investment banker sparked a minor code war.
“I love it (Papenhuyzen look)! If only I had the top bit. That’s magic,” Ricci said.
“That’s (Smith) not so good, I don’t know, maybe the other fella’s is thicker.”
Ricci grew his pretend mullet during Covid much to the chagrin of wife Susannah.
“Everybody hates it. My wife hates it,” Ricci said.
“I let it grow during Covid and I was walking outside one day and I felt the wind in my hair for the first time in about 30 years and I kept it growing.
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“My wife is desperate to cut it, but I like it, and no one else seems to but that doesn’t bother me, it’s a talking point anyway, and certainly got a lot of attention at Royal Ascot.”
Ricci is open to suggestions on a quiet spot at Flemington on Tuesday to listen to the Cup.
The notoriously nervous watcher listened from under the grandstand in 2017 when Max Dynamite finished third in the Melbourne Cup.
“They tend to leave me alone when I’m in Cheltenham (UK),” Ricci said.
“I don’t know if they’ll leave me alone here, probably yell at me. that I’m a knucklehead or whatever, but anyway, I haven’t spotted a spot yet, but any suggestions welcome.”
Originally published as Melbourne Cup owner Rich Ricci rates the mullets of AFL-NRL stars Ryan Papenhuyzen and Bailey Smith
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