Ipswich SHS skipper, Josiah Pahulu, to bolster Queensland’s schoolboy championship hopes

Training beside Gold Coast Titans aces David Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has given this 177cm, 102kg powerful prop the inspiration to dominate for Queensland at the Australian schoolboys championships.

Meet the powerful teenage prop, who has moulded his skills at the same school as rugby league great Allan Langer, and is bound to join some of his idols in the NRL after signing with the Gold Coast Titans.

New Zealand-born Josiah Pahulu, 18, continues Ipswich State High School’s rich history of producing rugby league prospects after signing with the Titans as a 16-year-old.

The Bellbird Park product, who will join the NRL club at pre-season training for the 2023 season, is ready for his next challenge following a breakout year where he earned selection in the Queensland Under-19 State of Origin team.

The Ipswich product will be a key cog in the Queensland engine room at the Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League championships which kick off in Redcliffe on Saturday.

KommunityTV will be the only place you can watch every minute of the action from the Championships.

The Queensland Under 19 State of Origin team.

Pahulu, a 177cm and 102kg enforcer, said he has already been inspired by meeting some Titans stars, including David Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.

“It was crazy to hear their professionalism, especially in the team circle. It motivates and inspires me to do the same,” he said.

“I’m a bit nervous (to train with the Titans’ NRL squad) but it means I am aware of the opportunity I have been given. I’m with the Titans to develop and they are helping me get to the next level.

Josiah Pahulu (left) with Gold Coast Titan David Fifita (right).

As the captain of the Ipswich SHS Langer Trophy team, Pahulu said he wanted to implement the lessons he learned from Fifita and Fa’asuamaleaui.

“You have to let the boys open up and talk, to get an environment where we can express what we feel we need to work on,” Pahulu said.

“It’s important to give every player the opportunity to call out other players on what we can do better, and be accountable.”

The youngster, who has a youthful mix of his father’s Tongan heritage and his mother’s Samoan genes, had his first taste of Origin football with the Queensland Under-19 team, which went down to New South Wales 32-24 on June 23 in a game full of rising stars for Australian rugby league.

Josiah Pahulu Ipswich SHS. Thursday May 12, 2022. Picture, John Gass

Pahulu said it was a great experience playing in the game but also being able to have lunch with Maroons legends in current coach Billy Slater as well as Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston.

“It still gives me chills. I learned how much respect and confidence to have for yourself. You have to back yourself,” Pahulu said.

“Having lunch with them (Slater, Smith and Thurston) was crazy. I was in shock. They were eating their food and I was just staring at them.

He also said it meant a lot to receive advice from Queensland forward Felise Kaufusi, who told him to keep working and have a “don’t give up mentality”.

Josiah Pahulu receiving his jersey from Matt Gillett

Aside from his hunger for flattening his opposition, young Pahulu has a wonderful connection with his biggest motivator – father, Pat Pahulu.

During every game, Pat offers Josiah hands signals for what he needs to work on, giving a peace sign and running motion to tell his son to do two runs a set and touches his shoulder to tell him to go after another dominant tackle.

The Pahulu connection. Josiah (left), Pat (right).

After every game, Pahulu and his father sit down in the lounge room and rewatch the game to find things to work on.

“I look for him during the game when taking breathers and he will tell me what to do next,” Josiah said.

“My parents have been a big help. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them. They are the reason I do the things I do.”

Josiah Pahulu attending his church.

Pahulu also said his Mormon faith played a big part in his life, where he even prayed that his teammates and opposition would be safe before every game.

The gun prop will run out for Queensland for their ASSRL nationals opener against NSW CHS on Saturday, and will be determined to drive his state to championships glory before returning to the Langer Trophy with Ipswich on July 12.

Pahulu said he did not know where he would be if he didn’t attend Ipswich SHS.

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“It’s the best place for me to develop,” Pahulu said.

“Ipswich SHS called me last minute on the day I was supposed to start at Redbank SHS back in 2017 to say that I had been enrolled.

“They want you to become a good footballer. But at the end of the day they want you to be the best person in life. That’s why Ipswich is so good.”