Latest news with #CanberraRaiders
Daily Mail
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Footy star Josh Papalii misses birth of his son as Raiders march to top of NRL ladder - 'unbelievable sacrifice'
Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has hailed the 'unbelievable sacrifice' of Josh Papalii's wife, after she gave her blessing for the veteran prop to miss the birth of their son so he could play against the Knights on Friday night. Sepa Salesa welcomed the couple's fourth child - Jeremiah Papalii - into the world just hours before kick-off, and it didn't go unnoticed by a thankful Stuart. 'The reason I have Paps here today, an unbelievable sacrifice from Sepa - Josh's wife - who had a baby boy this afternoon, Jeremiah,' Stuart told reporters at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle at the post-game press conference. 'It was always going to be touch and go whether Sepa could hang on or what not, but she wanted Josh to go away and play. 'It was an unbelievable sacrifice from a new mother.' Papalii - who chalked up 106 running metres and made 31 tackles as the Raiders won 22-18 to become the new NRL ladder leaders - said he was 'pretty excited' and was 'looking forward to checking on the wife and holding my new son.' Papalii - who chalked up 106 running metres and made 31 tackles as the Raiders won 22-18 in Newcastle - said he was 'looking forward to checking on the wife and holding my new son' 'I told 'Sticky' at the start of the week that she was sort of due around Friday,' he added. 'I also told the boys that my missus said make sure we come home with the two points and she'll deliver the baby. 'I'm glad both happened.' It comes as Papalii prepares to leave the club at the end of the season, with St Helens his destination next year in the English Super League. 'Papa came and spoke to (CEO) Don Furner and I some time ago and told us that he has some interest in England and also other NRL he simply said, 'I can't play against the Raiders,' Stuart told News Corp. 'From our club's point of view, we couldn't be prouder of Josh. 'He's been an extremely loyal player and when the discussion turns to legends of the Raiders, one of the first names spoken will be Papa's.' Papalii, 33, made his NRL debut with Canberra in 2011 and is now the club's most capped player. The prop's form has been so impressive this season that he could earn a recall for Queensland ahead of the Origin series decider on July 9 in Sydney.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Unbelievable sacrifice': Ricky goes public with news about Josh Papalii and wife
Ricky Stuart produced a brilliant gesture for Josh Papalii after Canberra's win over Newcastle on Saturday night, bringing him into the post-match press conference to announced the birth of his fourth child. Papalii had another barnstorming game, running for 106 metres and making 31 tackles as the Raiders won 22-18. The 33-year-old made a surprise appearance alongside Stuart and Canberra captain Joseph Tapine in the post-match press conference, and Stuart started by revealing why. The coach described it as an "unbelievable sacrifice" from Papalii's wife Sepa to give him her blessing to travel to Newcastle and miss the birth, which happened just hours before the game. 'The reason I bought Paps along today, an unbelievable sacrifice from Sepa Papalii - Josh's wife - who had a baby boy this afternoon, Jeremiah,' Stuart said. 'It was always going to be touch and go whether Sepa could hang on or what not, but she wanted Josh to go away and play. It was an unbelievable sacrifice from a new mother so I thought I'd bring Josh along.' Papalii said: 'Pretty excited. Can't wait to go back and check on the wife and hold my new son. "I told 'Sticky' at the start of the week that she was sort of due around tonight. I told the room that my missus told me to make sure we come home with the two points and she'll deliver the baby. I'm glad we did both.' Stuart added: 'I'm glad she held her end of the bargain up.' Stuart and Papalii have a special bond, as shown when the coach burst into tears when Papalii scored in his 319th first-grade game earlier this month - breaking the record for most ever by a Canberra player. The veteran forward's love of the Raiders is so strong that he refuses to play for any other NRL club, and will instead move to England next year to finish his career with St Helens. 'Papa came and spoke to (CEO) Don Furner and I some time ago and told us that he has some interest in England and also other NRL clubs and he simply said, 'I can't play against the Raiders and I'll look to secure a contract in England at some stage'," Stuart told The Daily Telegraph. 'From our club's point of view, we couldn't be prouder of Josh. 'He's been an extremely loyal player and when the discussion turns to legends of the Raiders, one of the first name's spoken will be Papa's. How this unfolds for Papa I'm not sure, but what I do know is that he'll give everything he has until the very last step he takes on the field for the Raiders." Papalii's form has been so good that some have suggested Billy Slater should bring him out of rep retirement to play in the State of Origin decider for Queensland. Papalii has played 25 games for the Maroons, but retired from rep footy back in 2023. Whispers have re-emerged ahead of Game 3 that Slater might try and convince Papalii to backflip, and Matty Johns is all for it. "Little bit of talk going around about Josh Papalii," Johns said on SEN radio on Friday. "Maybe Billy selecting him for Game 3 out of the blue. "I think it would be a fantastic move for Queensland. To come down to Sydney for a decider and to bring someone with the presence of 'Big Papa' and his leadership, I think it would be a masterstroke." RELATED: The one club banned from signing Selwyn Cobbo early revealed Panthers star in doubt for State of Origin 3 in concern for NSW Ben Hunt said on 4BC radio last week: 'I would love to see big Paps out there. There was never a time when he pulled on the jumper that he let Queensland down and he is playing great footy at the moment. He is the ultimate warrior. He would bring some real aggression up front if we brought him back in.'
News.com.au
a day ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Huge Origin drama as Kalyn Ponga suffers an injury against Canberra
Knights and Maroons star Kalyn Ponga is in grave doubt for the State of Origin decider after injuring his foot in Newcastle's 22-18 loss to Canberra. Ponga is now in huge doubt for Game 3, with Queensland coach Billy Slater to announce his squad on Monday morning. 'Kalyn Ponga won't be back tonight with a foot injury. He'll have scans tomorrow,' James Hooper reported on Fox League. Despite sitting in second for the majority of the season, Canterbury's 8-6 loss to Penrith on Thursday night left the door ajar for Ricky Stuart's side to climb their way into pole position. The Knights on the other hand have won two of their last three clashes, both thanks to tries on the last play, yet neither displays convinced fans that the club had turned a corner. Though there was no points in the opening 15 minutes, the Raiders were dominant from the outset, busts from Matt Timoko and Kaeo Weekes leaving the Green Machine in Newcastle's red zone. Jackson Hastings, recalled from NSW Cup after Fletcher Sharpe ruptured his spleen in Perth, nearly set up the opener on the back of a pinpoint chip for Dom Young in the corner, only for Weekes to plant the ball in-goal. It would be a former Knight that would dot down for the eventual first try, Simi Sasagi leaping through the air to pinch the ball from Ponga's hands and plant it down for a 4-0 lead. Identical plays on either side of the field extended the Raiders' lead to 16, thanks to miracle balls from both Canberra back-rowers. Tom Starling's last-tackle short-ball to Zac Hosking saw the Newcastle junior hit-and-spin before somehow popping the ball to Weekes for a stunning four-pointer. A pinpoint 40/20 from Jamal Fogarty landed Canberra back in Newcastle's 20 metre zone, with Starling reusing the same play that handed Weekes a try minutes earlier. This time the former Knight darted out of dummy-half on the left, hitting Sasagi short before the forward popped the ball back to Starling, finding Strange on the short side for Canberra's third in quick succession. The 16-0 lead at halftime signified the eighth time this season Newcastle have gone into the break with a duck egg on the scoreboard, earning scattered boos as the players ran off. The zero was quickly erased in the second stanza, however, Ponga finding James Schiller on the short side for an easy four-pointer. While it seemed to breathe some life into Newcastle, sending Schiller down the touchline again moments later, Strange put the dagger into the side after scooping up a loose ball, racing away before finding Jed Stuart in support. Two tries in as many games for Jed Stuart after a terrific run from Ethan Strange! ðŸ'° Watch #NRLKnightsRaiders LIVE on ch.502 or stream on Kayo: âœ�ï¸� BLOG ðŸ'¢ MATCH CENTRE — Fox League (@FOXNRL) June 27, 2025 Newcastle forward Jermaine McEwen would crash over from dummy-half for his first NRL try late in the piece, only narrowly keeping the door ajar for the home side. That ajar door copped a double blow in Newcastle's favour soon after, Owen Pattie penalised for an obstruction in the act of scoring before Schiller bagged his double at the other end. A slick backline movement through fill-in fullback Dane Gagai on the left found Schiller in the corner, running around to improve the position, and cut the deficit to a narrow 22-18 lead for the Raiders. Despite coming home with a wet sail, Newcastle couldn't find the killer blow, knocking it on in the final play to seal yet another loss at home as focus turns to Ponga's scans.
ABC News
a day ago
- Sport
- ABC News
NRL live updates: Manly host Wests Tigers, Canberra fight for top spot against Newcastle
Wests Tigers have been dealt a hammer blow after halfback Jarome Luai was ruled out of their game against Manly due to an infection. Luai is expected to be fit for State of Origin III but will not take the field at Brookvale, with Api Koroisau moving to halfback. Later, Canberra will travel to Newcastle and the stakes are high for Ricky Stuart's side given they can assume first place on the ladder with a win. Follow the live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Billy Slater urged to recall Josh Papalii for Maroons in State of Origin decider
Billy Slater has been urged to issue a State of Origin 'SOS' to retired Maroons warhorse Josh Papalii to deliver Queensland a stunning series victory. Papalii has rocketed into the frame for a Queensland recall in the July 9 decider against the NSW Blues in Sydney. Papalii, 33, played 23 games for Queensland from 2013-22 and was regarded as one of the Maroons' most feared front rowers. He is also a former Kangaroos (11 Tests) and Samoa (10 Tests) representative. 'Big Papa' announced his representative retirement in the lead-up to the 2023 Origin series when he faced being overlooked for selection. However he has wound back the clock this season with a string of strong performances for the resurgent Canberra Raiders, who are sitting second on the NRL ladder. • BRONCOS BLOCK COWBOYS' POACHING BID TO SIGN SELWYN COBBO There is a view the fearsome Papalii, with his flowing mullet and scarred face, could inject a hard edge and Origin experience into Queensland's forward pack for the decider. Maroons middles Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Moeaki Fotuaika, Lindsay Collins, Trent Loiero and Pat Carrigan haven't exactly dominated their NSW rivals in the series, which is 1-all going into the decider. Former Queensland utility Ben Hunt said Papalii still had what it took to thrive in the Origin arena. 'I hope to god it is true,' Hunt told 4BC in response to speculation about Papalii's return. 'I would love to see big 'Paps' out there. There was never a time when he pulled on the jumper that he let Queensland down and he is playing great footy at the moment. 'He is the ultimate warrior. He would bring some real aggression up front if we brought him back in.' The Blues have a punchy pack led by Game One man-of-the-match Payne Haas and bench weapon Spencer Leniu. Their backrowers Hudson Young, Liam Martin and Angus Crichton are all explosive players with tempers and there is a view Queensland is lacking midfield mongrel. Fotuaika rebounded from a poor Origin I with a solid performance in Perth last week as Queensland levelled the series with a 26-24 win, but is no selection certainty. Fa'asuamaleaui is carrying a sternum injury which has seen his form plummet in the past few weeks. Carrigan will be picked and there is no suggestion Papalii will definitely be recalled, but he could be the type of player Queensland needs to beat the Blues at Accor Stadium. Former Maroons lock Corey Parker said Papalii's form was up to Origin standard. 'Absolutely, I pencilled him in my team for Origin II but then I thought, well, he's retired, so they won't pick him,' he said. 'Absolutely he can do a job. He's probably playing as good a footy now as he ever has. He just seems comfortable. 'It would be a question Queensland could ask him if he wants to come out of retirement. 'He'd be fine playing Origin. He plays week in, week out at NRL level and I understand Origin is quicker, but he's only looking to do 25 minutes at most. 'He'd bring a bit of intimidation. There's no bulls*** with Papa and he would get stuck into the Blues. I've played against him and it's never fun playing against Papa. 'I think Papa or Corey Horsburgh deserve to be considered for Game Three.' Slater and his selectors will convene on Sunday night after the completion of round 17 NRL fixtures to pick an Origin III team, which will be announced on Monday. Papalii's Raiders teammate Horsburgh was part of Queensland's Game Two squad.
