'I replied with an F-bomb': Papalii to rock for Maroons
The 33-year-old was in hospital with wife Mesepa and baby son Jeremiah when Maroons coach Billy Slater called to ask if he had a 24th and final Origin game in him.
"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 said.
"I spoke to Bill when I had that little break and he asked me one question, if I had one more game in me and I replied with an 'F Bomb' and said 'yes, I had one more left.'
"Hopefully I can go out there next week and put on a good performance."
Papalii last played for the Maroons in 2022 and had retired from representative football.
He is playing his final season in Canberra this year and has been in career-best form. The Maroons are looking for extra punch in the middle for the Origin decider in Sydney and Papalii was the obvious choice for one last hurrah.
"It's definitely my last. I'm obviously just looking forward to it and soaking in the week," he said.
"I'm still buzzing just being back in maroon. I just need to work hard and turn up next week and hopefully perform.
"I was happily retired. I was happy to just slug away down in Canberra. We're going pretty well down in the capital as well.
"When I saw the first couple of missed calls (from Slater), I just didn't know what to expect. And obviously I spoke to Bill and it's very nice to be back."
Papalii is an enforcer who has led the Maroons pack previously. His role is simple.
"I think just turning up and doing my job. I feel like I don't have to come in and do anything special," he said.
"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 arrived in camp on Wednesday safe in the knowledge Jeremiah and his wife are in great shape.
"They're good now. They are out (of hospital), hence why I come in a little bit later," he said.
"I was never coming to camp unless my family were okay and now they're all good. We're locked in for next Wednesday."
In camp on the Sunshine Coast with the team, Papalii was as refreshed on Thursday as he's been in recent times.
"It's the best sleep I've had in a few weeks," he grinned.
"Last night was good. I had one of the boys come and wake me up."
He's just become a father for the fourth time but there was no way veteran prop Josh Papalii was going to turn down an opportunity for one final State of Origin conflict with Queensland.
The 33-year-old was in hospital with wife Mesepa and baby son Jeremiah when Maroons coach Billy Slater called to ask if he had a 24th and final Origin game in him.
"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 said.
"I spoke to Bill when I had that little break and he asked me one question, if I had one more game in me and I replied with an 'F Bomb' and said 'yes, I had one more left.'
"Hopefully I can go out there next week and put on a good performance."
Papalii last played for the Maroons in 2022 and had retired from representative football.
He is playing his final season in Canberra this year and has been in career-best form. The Maroons are looking for extra punch in the middle for the Origin decider in Sydney and Papalii was the obvious choice for one last hurrah.
"It's definitely my last. I'm obviously just looking forward to it and soaking in the week," he said.
"I'm still buzzing just being back in maroon. I just need to work hard and turn up next week and hopefully perform.
"I was happily retired. I was happy to just slug away down in Canberra. We're going pretty well down in the capital as well.
"When I saw the first couple of missed calls (from Slater), I just didn't know what to expect. And obviously I spoke to Bill and it's very nice to be back."
Papalii is an enforcer who has led the Maroons pack previously. His role is simple.
"I think just turning up and doing my job. I feel like I don't have to come in and do anything special," he said.
"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 arrived in camp on Wednesday safe in the knowledge Jeremiah and his wife are in great shape.
"They're good now. They are out (of hospital), hence why I come in a little bit later," he said.
"I was never coming to camp unless my family were okay and now they're all good. We're locked in for next Wednesday."
In camp on the Sunshine Coast with the team, Papalii was as refreshed on Thursday as he's been in recent times.
"It's the best sleep I've had in a few weeks," he grinned.
"Last night was good. I had one of the boys come and wake me up."
He's just become a father for the fourth time but there was no way veteran prop Josh Papalii was going to turn down an opportunity for one final State of Origin conflict with Queensland.
The 33-year-old was in hospital with wife Mesepa and baby son Jeremiah when Maroons coach Billy Slater called to ask if he had a 24th and final Origin game in him.
"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 said.
"I spoke to Bill when I had that little break and he asked me one question, if I had one more game in me and I replied with an 'F Bomb' and said 'yes, I had one more left.'
"Hopefully I can go out there next week and put on a good performance."
Papalii last played for the Maroons in 2022 and had retired from representative football.
He is playing his final season in Canberra this year and has been in career-best form. The Maroons are looking for extra punch in the middle for the Origin decider in Sydney and Papalii was the obvious choice for one last hurrah.
"It's definitely my last. I'm obviously just looking forward to it and soaking in the week," he said.
"I'm still buzzing just being back in maroon. I just need to work hard and turn up next week and hopefully perform.
"I was happily retired. I was happy to just slug away down in Canberra. We're going pretty well down in the capital as well.
"When I saw the first couple of missed calls (from Slater), I just didn't know what to expect. And obviously I spoke to Bill and it's very nice to be back."
Papalii is an enforcer who has led the Maroons pack previously. His role is simple.
"I think just turning up and doing my job. I feel like I don't have to come in and do anything special," he said.
"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 arrived in camp on Wednesday safe in the knowledge Jeremiah and his wife are in great shape.
"They're good now. They are out (of hospital), hence why I come in a little bit later," he said.
"I was never coming to camp unless my family were okay and now they're all good. We're locked in for next Wednesday."
In camp on the Sunshine Coast with the team, Papalii was as refreshed on Thursday as he's been in recent times.
"It's the best sleep I've had in a few weeks," he grinned.
"Last night was good. I had one of the boys come and wake me up."
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Josh Papalii could play against Raiders in 2026
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The 33-year-old prop is back with the Queensland team ahead of his 24th and final State of Origin game and was asked in Maroons camp about his club future. Papalii now has the most games in the top grade for the Raiders but will not be at the club next year. While Super League has been touted as the competition where he will finish his career, Papalii is yet to make a call on his next move. "I'm still unsure," he said. "I feel like I still got a lot to offer as a player and as a mentor and just being an older head I still feel like I can still play good footy, and I think our season down in Canberra is sort of showing that. "Holding the record for Canberra now and overtaking Jason Croker down there with the most games for Canberra Raiders is obviously very special, and that's how I sort of want to keep it. "But if the team that you're playing for is not offering you another contract for the following year and you want to play on, you've obviously got to look elsewhere. "You 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." Papalii won't be available for Saturday's home clash with St George Illawarra due to his Origin commitments. The top-of-the-table Raiders are marching towards a minor premiership and the 321-game Papalii has been a prime reason why. He's playing great and enjoying it at the same time. "You put an older head amongst younger boys, there's a bit of control and obviously a bit of fun off-field and all that," he said. "We know how to go about our work. I'm just taking it one week at a time. I am a bit older, but a bit wiser too, I think." Canberra great Josh Papalii insists he still has a lot to offer as a player and has kept the option of playing elsewhere in the NRL in 2026 open. The 33-year-old prop is back with the Queensland team ahead of his 24th and final State of Origin game and was asked in Maroons camp about his club future. Papalii now has the most games in the top grade for the Raiders but will not be at the club next year. While Super League has been touted as the competition where he will finish his career, Papalii is yet to make a call on his next move. "I'm still unsure," he said. "I feel like I still got a lot to offer as a player and as a mentor and just being an older head I still feel like I can still play good footy, and I think our season down in Canberra is sort of showing that. "Holding the record for Canberra now and overtaking Jason Croker down there with the most games for Canberra Raiders is obviously very special, and that's how I sort of want to keep it. "But if the team that you're playing for is not offering you another contract for the following year and you want to play on, you've obviously got to look elsewhere. "You 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." Papalii won't be available for Saturday's home clash with St George Illawarra due to his Origin commitments. The top-of-the-table Raiders are marching towards a minor premiership and the 321-game Papalii has been a prime reason why. He's playing great and enjoying it at the same time. "You put an older head amongst younger boys, there's a bit of control and obviously a bit of fun off-field and all that," he said. "We know how to go about our work. I'm just taking it one week at a time. I am a bit older, but a bit wiser too, I think."
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The Advertiser
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