‘I love Canberra’: Papalii hopes for new Raiders deal
Jasper Bruce |
Josh Papalii says he wants to stay at Canberra in 2026, admitting his previous talk of leaving had come from no longer feeling good enough for the Raiders’ NRL side.
The bombshell comes after both player and club had publicly confirmed 2025 would be Papalii’s last in Canberra, with the veteran prop linked to the English Super League and NRL rivals.
In the weeks since, Papalii has broken Jason Croker’s record for most Raiders games, come out of State of Origin retirement to help Queensland to a fairytale series victory and reprised some of his best form.
After prolonged speculation about his future, Papalii confirmed on Monday he wanted to remain at the NRL’s ladder leaders, whom he joined as a teenager some 17 years ago.
“I know where I want to be but I know there are things that have to happen for me to stay (at the Raiders),” he told AAP.
“I totally understand. I’ve got to consider seeing myself somewhere else as well.
“(But) I love Canberra, this has been a part of my life for the last 16, 17 years.
“I’ve left it up to my management team. I’m hoping, but hope doesn’t always get it over the line.”
Papalii said when he’d previously spoken about moving on, he’d been feeling like he was no longer at the standard the Raiders required.
“I just felt like at the time and place when I was speaking to the media a few months ago, I wasn’t in a good place. My footy probably wasn’t up to scratch,” said the 24-time Origin representative.
“I feel like with jerseys, you’ve got to earn them and I felt like I wasn’t earning my jersey at that time.
“The club means a lot to me so the last thing I wanted to do was be in the way of them signing a really great youngster coming through.”
But all that has since changed for Papalii as the Raiders have won 10 of their last 11 games and surged to the top of the ladder with a month to play in the regular season.
Papalii has led from the front, with 2025 shaping as one of his best years in recent memory.
“I feel like if I am in the way, I love the club too much to sit here and let that happen. But I don’t think that’s the case at the moment,” he said.
“I feel like I’m earning my jersey at the moment. I’m keeping my spot in the team and I’m adding value.”
Papalii will turn 34 in May next year but said he did not necessarily believe 2026 would be his final year at the Raiders if a deal could get over the line.
“There’s probably a good few years until I’m holding on too long,” he said.
“I’m one to let my footy do the talking and if I’m not performing, I wouldn’t want to be hanging around.
“Hopefully we get (the deal) done soon and put it all to bed and focus on the finals.”
Papalii is one of only three players remaining from the Raiders’ 2019 grand final team, and one of only three who were born when the club last won the premiership in 1994.
The prop says “belief is definitely there” that 2025 could be the Raiders’ year.
But coach Ricky Stuart has been quick to keep the Raiders grounded, reminding the squad on Monday that the season’s biggest battles were yet to come.
“We still need to secure that minor premiership and at the same time we have to win games to get to the grand final and win the grand final,” said Papalii.
“Until that’s all done, then we can look back and talk about the success story of 2025.”
AAP
