Raiders coach Ricky Stuart’s emotional tribute to returning Maroons hero Josh Papalii

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has a special bond with all of his players, but his relationship with returning Queensland hero Josh Papalii is one he has with no one else, writes Peter Badel.

Josh Papalii will climb out of a hospital chair in a bid to inspire a Maroons 45-year miracle after Ricky Stuart revealed the Raiders hit man almost rejected a Queensland Origin swan song.

This masthead can reveal the series of phone calls between Stuart, Papalii, Queensland coach Billy Slater and Canberra’s medical staff that triggered one of Origin’s great comeback stories.

Papalii will end a 1092-day absence from the Origin arena after coming out of Maroons retirement to spearhead Queensland’s pack in the Sydney decider this Wednesday night.

But Papalii’s Artie Beetson-style fairytale almost collapsed before reaching first base.

The 33-year-old originally planned to say a polite “no” to Slater for family reasons, including the birth of his fourth child last week and his young son Josh’s battle with autism.

The 23-game Origin enforcer had announced his retirement from the Queensland team after candid discussions with Slater in 2023 and Papalii had no intention of wearing Maroon again, regardless of his form for the Green Machine.

But after talks with Stuart and Slater, who has been in dialogue with Canberra’s high-performance staff regarding Papalii’s welfare, the Raiders prop decided to suit up for Queensland’s Mission Impossible.

Queensland coach Billy Slater chatting with Josh Papalii at Maroons training. Picture: Getty Images

No Queensland team in Origin history has recovered from 1-0 down to win a series with back-to-back victories on the road, and they so nearly went into the decider without ‘Big Papa’.

“To be honest, I didn’t think he was going to play,” Stuart told this masthead ahead of Origin III.

“Josh’s wife Sepa was in hospital (having just given birth). He had a baby on the day we played against Newcastle and Josh has had a fair bit going on in his life.

“I thought he would say no because Josh didn’t know if it (the chances of an Origin recall) was going to be that real.

“But he knew it was real when he got the phone call from Billy.

“I remember Josh ringing me and he said, ‘Billy just rang me, I couldn’t say no to him’.

“I just burst out laughing when he said he couldn’t turn down Billy, but I’m glad he didn’t, because he is on the big stage again.”

Papalii initially planned on turning down Queensland due to family reasons, before talking with Ricky Stuart and Slater. Picture: Getty Images

But Papalii’s return to the Origin battleground this Wednesday night is not merely selection hype. Stuart and Slater have held discussions around Papalii’s battle-weary body and the steps necessary to ensure he delivers for the Maroons at Accor Stadium.

In 1995, Queensland skipper Trevor Gillmeister famously checked out of hospital with an infected leg on game day to lead the Maroons to a 3-0 rout of the Blues.

Papalii was hardly as crook as ‘The Axe’, but after a disrupted build-up sleeping in hospital following the birth of his child, Slater has turned to a Blues halfback legend to get the best out of the Maroons warhorse.

“I’ve spoken to Billy about what’s going to be best for Josh,” said Stuart, who played 14 Origin games for NSW.

“Josh slept in a hospital chair for two nights in a row, so his physical welfare is important going into this game.

“I had a chat to Billy with my head of performance (Joshua Strahorn) just to create a picture for Billy of what’s been going on with Josh.

“Here (at Canberra), we modify his training. He needs a certain physical preparation to be able to perform the way he does and for him to get there, it takes its toll. It really does.

“It’s a big job Papa does. He has put his body through so much.

Stuart and Papalii have a special bond, with the Raiders coach labelling the enforcer the most unselfish player he ever coached. Picture: Getty Images

“But he makes the sacrifices because he is the most unselfish player I have ever coached.

“Queensland will look after him and I know Josh wouldn’t have accepted the role if he didn’t think he would play to the standard required.

“He’ll play well and above the standard, I can tell you.

“If he didn’t think he could, he wouldn’t be there.”

Papalii will play his 24th game for the Maroons in the decider and admits he was content with an Origin career that had netted six series wins from 10 campaigns.

“I did say (to Stuart) if Billy was to give me the call, I probably wouldn’t answer it just because I’m older, I still don’t think I have it,” Papalii said.

“Then Billy called and me being me, I’ve got that fire in the belly for the Maroons jersey.

“Billy 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.

“I was happily retired. I was happy to just slug away down in Canberra.

“But it’s very nice to be back.

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

Papalii’s recall has additional meaning for Stuart because of a bond between the pair forged by off-field hardships.

When Papalii’s three-year-old boy was diagnosed with autism last year – young Josh is non-verbal – he found a kindred spirit in his coach, who set up the Ricky Stuart Foundation in 2011 as his daughter Emma battled the neurodevelopmental disorder.

No Queensland team in Origin history has recovered from 1-0 down to win a series with back-to-back victories on the road. Can Papalii make the difference? Picture: Getty Images

“It was a struggle for Papa and Sepa,” Stuart said.

“Papa hides a lot of that stuff, mate, but I’ve been through that diagnosis of autism myself as a father. It’s a peace of mind when you actually get the diagnosis of what the issue actually is.

“I was able to put Papa and Sepa in touch with the right people and get that professional help, but it’s an emotional journey.

“Your other siblings come second and it’s hard for Josh to leave for training and playing when Sepa is handling the kids.

“That’s why Josh’s older boy, Noah, is going to be a tower of strength for his brother one day.

“He doesn’t know it yet, but I have a genuine love for that young boy and the role he will play in his brother’s life as they grow up together.

“I can’t say enough about Josh as a person and player. Papa and I have got a very special friendship outside football and this season has been a really enjoyable one coaching him.

“Even now, at his age, he just keeps winning the day.

“It will be great to see him running back out there in a Queensland jumper.”

Originally published as Raiders coach Ricky Stuart’s emotional tribute to returning Maroons hero Josh Papalii