'I have one more left': Papalii ready to rip in for one last ride

“Hopefully I can go out there next week and put on a good performance.

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

“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.

The Papalii’s welcomed their fourth child just last Friday, while the Raiders prop was preparing to play Newcastle, but with mum and bub remaining in hospital after his arrival, Papalii wasn’t able to confirm his availability for the decider right away. When he did call Slater back however, his answer was emphatic.

With wife Sepa and newborn Jeremiah safely at home, Josh Papalii was then able to answer the call from Billy Slater asking him back to Maroons camp for one last hurrah.

“I was never coming to camp unless my family were okay and now they're all good, we're locked in for next Wednesday.

“It's definitely my last, obviously just looking forward to it, soaking in the week.

“I'm still buzzing just being back and back in Maroon, so feeling good. Just need to work hard on our days we're on and turn up next week and hopefully perform.”

Although he had been “happily retired” from Origin football, having played his last game in 2022, his club coach and former Blues great Ricky Stuart seemed to sense a change in the wind, asking Papalii if he’d be getting a call up again.

“The week before, he must have known something was going on because he came up to me at training and said that you'll probably get the call and I was like, ‘oh look mate, I'm almost three years retired out of State of Origin footy’,” Papalii said.

“I did say if Billy was to give me the call, I probably wouldn't answered it just because I'm older, I still don't think I have it. But Billy called and me being me, I've got that fire in the belly for the Maroons jersey and I said yes. We are here now and Ricky is happy …

"There's expectation, there's doubt as well ... (but) 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.

"Saying yes was the easy bit, but it's the stuff in between, the training sessions.

"I am a bit older, it takes me a lot longer to warm up. They're the little things I need to get over, but come Wednesday; the motivation, I don't need to get motivated to play Origin. It's Origin. I grew up watching Queensland play and it's all I've ever wanted to do.”

Arriving in camp on Wednesday, Papalii is now firmly focused on the task ahead, and despite having 23 Origin games under his belt and a group of eager young forwards keen to be in his presence, was aiming to keep things simple.

“Some of these young boys, I'm 15 years older than. I just look at it as just special to be a part of,” Papalii said.

“It's always an honour and privilege to put this jersey on and next Wednesday is no different.

“I'm looking forward to it. It's all about just enjoying the week, but when we're training, we're switched on and trying to add value to the team.

“I feel like I don't have to come in and do 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.

“My approach to this game, yes, it's my last, but I just need to do my job.

"I don't have to go out and be the hero that people think I'm going to be. I'm a front rower, my job's pretty simple and I've just got to make sure I'm the best at playing simple.”

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