State of Origin 2017: Josh Papalii finding form after putting personal issues behind him

HAVING worked hard to put his personal issues behind him, Josh Papalii is set on reproducing the form that made him Queensland’s best forward.

Papalii didn’t open up on what led to his DUI confession. Photo: Adam Head

JOSH Papalii says he is like the rest of us. He has his moments. Some better than others.

For a while there was a “black cloud” hanging over his head, which led Papalii to one of the NRL’s more bizarre off-field incidents.

In January, the Maroons weapon was charged for drink driving and in court last month it emerged he had made two anonymous triple-zero calls to dob himself in.

Papalii does not feel the need to explain his actions or what prompted them.

He has moved on from the incident and set his sights on reproducing the form that made him Queensland’s best forward in last year’s State of Origin series.

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Papalii didn’t open up on what led to his DUI confession. ABC News/Gordon Taylor

“I went through a rough patch,” Papalii told The Courier-Mail. “The way I dealt with things wasn’t professional as a player and person.

“Fans can judge from the outside but until you know the inside story, you won’t understand what’s going on.

“The main thing is my partner and parents knew what was up and that’s all that matters. My family deserve to know the truth.

“They knew I let them down but they wanted to make sure I was all right.”

Papalii, 25, paid a hefty price for his actions after being rubbed out of the Kangaroos side for the recent Anzac Test. It was tough to stomach after he missed last year’s Four Nations tour because of injury, but what it has done is ignite the fire in this 112kg bulldozer.

Papalii will make his seventh Origin appearance for Queensland at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday and insists he is seeing nothing but blue skies now.

“I’m just a footy player,” Papalii said. “I’ve got my problems and my stuff going on as well.

“It’s hard my stuff comes out publicly but that comes with what I do. I can handle that. We’re past that now. The black cloud has moved south.”

Papalii has been a shining light in an up-and-down season for the Raiders. He has transformed into an 80-minute back-row beast during his 139-game NRL career, but it is the Logan product’s maturity that has caught Canberra coach Ricky Stuart’s eye.

“He’s been very consistent this year,” Stuart said. “It doesn’t surprise me the way he’s playing this year, whether it’s what we need from him with his runs in attack or his attitude in defence.

“His game has gone to another level, he is such an important part of our team.

“I’ve seen a real maturity in Josh. He has taken another step forward in terms of leadership this year. His teammates have noticed it. He wants to be more of a senior player in the way he leads the younger players and wants to help them.

“It comes with confidence in the players around him and the environment we have created at our club. We have worked hard to make our players happy, including Josh.”

Papalii will be crucial to the Maroons’ Origin plans. Photo: Adam Head

Queensland is set to reap the rewards of that happiness in Origin I when Papalii explodes in what will be an intriguing battle with NSW’s impressive pack.

He will play a crucial role in a forward pack missing stalwarts Matt Scott (knee) and Corey Parker (retired), signalling a new era for the Maroons engine room.

Papalii knows he is prepared for the added responsibility and is ready to put his dark days behind him.

“I’m pretty happy with my form at the moment,” he said. “It’s got me into this team. I can’t wait to play on Wednesday.”

Originally published as State of Origin 2017: Josh Papalii finding form after putting personal issues behind him