Papalii arrives with his future clouded. But now, he can cement his legacy

Arriving in camp Maroon fresh off celebrating the birth of his son, Josh Papalii admits he remains uncertain of what lies beyond 2025.

The veteran enforcer is eager to play on, yet it appears all but certain it will not be for his beloved Canberra Raiders.

It has led to suggestions he could embark for a stint in England, but what he did confirm was this would be his final Queensland hurrah.

“Overtaking Jason Croker down there with the most games for Canberra Raiders is very special, and that’s how I want to keep it,” Papalii said.

“But if the team that you’re playing for is not offering you another contract, and you want to play on, you’ve obviously got to look elsewhere.

“I’m still unsure, I feel like I still got a lot to offer as a player and as a mentor and just being an older head.

“Never say never. I still feel like I’ve got a lot of footy in me, whether that’s in the NRL or Super League.”

But when Maroons coach Billy Slater dialled his number, there was no uncertainty around Papalii’s decision to end his State of Origin hiatus, having retired from representative rugby league on the eve of the 2023 series.

“I missed the first couple of calls because my little fella and my wife were still in hospital at the time and there were a few complications with my little one,” Papalii revealed.

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“I spoke to Bill when I had that little break, and he asked me one question and said if I had one more game in me. I replied with an ‘F Bomb’ and said yes, I had one more left.

“It’s definitely my last … I’m still buzzing just being back in Maroon.”

Papalii enters Queensland’s Sunshine Coast camp with an aura the rest of an under siege forward pack is eager to feed off.

Despite forcing a decider, the Maroons engine room has been unable to dominate their New South Wales rivals – spearheaded by Broncos’ superstar Payne Haas.

Those south of the border questioned why Queensland brought a 33-year-old out of the wilderness to match them up front, given he has not experienced the game’s most daunting furnace for three years.

According to fellow Maroons prop Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, the doubters could not be more wrong, but they would have to wait for the reason to be revealed.

“We’ve just got to wait until Wednesday, that’s all I’ve got to say. They can say whatever they want, but we know what Paps brings to this team, and they obviously don’t know that,” Fa’asuamaleaui said.

“He’s one of my idols, he’s in my top five players that I’ve ever played with, if not number one. He just brings that confidence for the whole group.

“His aura, he’s a gentle giant, and he loves a laugh, and he just brings everyone together. The aura he has just gives us confidence to do our role, and we just get behind it.”

The numbers across the opening two 2025 encounters is telling for the influence and physicality Papalii can inflict in the decider in Sydney.

The Blues have run for more post-contact metres (1091 to 856) and tackle busts (80 to 52), while even in their Perth victory Queensland were kept to less than 30 metres per set on average.

Even Fa’asuamleaui has been below his best – his 90 running metres a game a complete contrast to 151 he has produced for the Gold Coast.

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Papalii’s SOS led to the axing of Moeaki Fotuaika, who after copping the brunt of criticism in game one – running for 38 metres from four carries – produced a far more emphatic 23-minute stint.

“I think everyone sees the errors that myself and he’s made and think that’s our whole performance,” Fa’asuamaleaui said.

“But it’s much bigger than that. Our teammates, our coaching staff, know what we bring. I thought Moe’s been very good, and he was unlucky to miss out on this camp, but he’ll be rooting for us.”

Even 321 NRL and 23 Origin games into his career, Papalii has found a way to remain the wrecking ball which made him a Raiders and Maroons legend – with approximately 40 per cent of his total metres this season post-contact.

He has also missed just nine tackles, but when asked why he could inspire a Maroons’ boilover, he squashed the idea it would be anything special.

“You don’t really get many special things out of front rowers these days anyway, so I just need to come and do my job and hopefully that can contribute to a win next Wednesday,” Papalii said.

“I’m a massive believer and I know what I can do, I know what I bring and I feel like my game’s made for it.”

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