State of Origin 2018: Maroons look to Josh Papalii to turn up the aggression for game three

SINCE debuting for the Maroons in 2013, Josh Papalii has started just once in his 11 State of Origin games — but with Queensland pride on the line, the Raiders hulk wants to deliver on his enforcer tag.

Queensland need Papalii to turn it up. (AAP Image/Darren England)

JOSH Papalii is determined to reprise his role as Queensland’s defensive hitman for Origin III — six months after being dispatched to Canberra’s “Fat Club” by former NSW coach Ricky Stuart.

Papalii will take on the greatest responsibility of his Origin career this Wednesday night, with the Maroons hulk to start in the front row for the first time in the dead-rubber at Suncorp Stadium.

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Queensland need Papalii to turn it up. (AAP Image/Darren England)

Since debuting for Queensland in 2013, Papalii has started just once in his 11 games, playing in the back-row in the Maroons’ dismal 28-4 loss to the Blues in Origin I last year at Suncorp.

Now Papalii returns to Queensland’s home of rugby league intent on stinging the Blues with the defensive efforts that once made him the most feared hitter in rugby league.

As a rookie at Canberra, Papalii famously crunched former NSW enforcer Paul Gallen and says he is ready to bring a hard edge to the Maroons’ engine room after his energetic bench performances in the opening two Origin games.

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“It’s only a tag, the enforcer, but that sits OK with me,” Papalii said.

“I’m coming into the front row to be ‘Paps’ and I want to lead the forward pack around, but I know that takes action.

“If I’m not producing the goods, then it won’t matter how people see me. When I get the ball, I want to run hard and in defence, I want to make an impact.

“I’m not a big talker but I like to lead with my actions.

“If Kevvie wants me to start and bring some aggression, I’ll do that … I’ll do whatever it takes.”

As if the Maroons needed any motivation to fire up. (AAP Image/David Moir)

Amid the disappointment of a series loss, the 2018 Origin campaign — Papalii’s sixth — has been the most consistent of his Queensland career.

The 26-year-old’s attitude in Camp Maroon can be traced to the pre-season in Canberra, where Stuart ordered Papalii to shed some kilos after he mixed football with fast food during Samoa’s World Cup campaign.

The menacing Papalii has since stripped eight kilos, giving him the fitness and energy to produce the ferocious kick return that lifted the Maroons in their 18-14 loss in Origin II.

Hit the Blues now to hurt them next year. (AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy)

“I was just a bit angry that we were behind on the scoreboard and I was trying to lift the side,” Papalii said of his memorable charge at ANZ Stadium.

“I’m pretty excited to be starting.

“I love playing in the middle. ‘Sticky’ (Raiders coach Stuart) has put me in the middle at Canberra to get a hold on how to play lock and front row.

“It’s important for me and Jai (Arrow, fellow prop) to set that standard.

“’J Wal’ (Jarrod Wallace) and Dylan Napa did a pretty good job (in the front row) in the first two games, but ‘Kevvie’ (coach Kevin Walters) has changed things for game three and now me and Jai have to start well.”

Having been part of the Queensland dynasty that won eight-straight series, Papalii cannot comprehend the potential embarrassment of a 3-0 rout.

“Definitely not,” he said. “You don’t want to be a 3-0 loser. We need to build momentum going into next year.”

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