Josh Papalii to sign Canberra Raiders NRL deal after being cleared of serious shoulder injury
This will put to bed any speculation linking the Raiders’ rampaging Queensland State of Origin with a return to his home state.
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Josh Papalii will sign a new deal with the Canberra Raiders within days after being cleared of a serious shoulder injury.
It will keep the star prop at the Raiders until at least the end of 2024 — and put to bed any speculation linking the rampaging Queenslander to a return to his home state.
It comes on the back of scans revealing Papalii did not suffer AC shoulder damage as first feared, meaning there is even some hope he could be available for Saturday’s clash against St George Illawarra.
It’s a massive boost for Ricky Stuart after earlier fears the injury could potentially end Papalii’s season, which would have all but written off the Raiders’ hopes as well given they are already without star dummy-half Josh Hodgson.
Meanwhile, Papalii’s pending contract upgrade will end talk he was even considering a move north for family reasons.
News Corp understands Papalii’s management will meet with the club later this week after all but agreeing to the terms of his new deal.
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It will see Papalii’s salary rise significantly for the final two years of his contract.
Papalii, 28, signed his last deal back in 2018 when he struggling for fitness after his weight exploded while away playing for Samoa at the 2017 World Cup.
That meant the Raiders got him for a bargain, believed to be around the $600,000 mark. Now his salary will go up significantly from 2023 to be in line with his standing in the game.
Stuart will make a decision on whether Papalii plays on Tuesday, but this is the Raiders’ bestcase scenario after the concerns that initially followed the weekend loss to the Sydney Roosters.
Veteran prop Sia Soliola is also hoping to take part in a contact session on Tuesday that will determine if he will be available to play the Dragons.
Soliola has been sidelined since early July with a shocking facial fracture.
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It emphasises why getting back Papalii and Soliola sooner rather than later is so important in the context of the Raiders’ season.
Young rookie Kai O’Donnell is the other option to get a call up into the squad for the Dragons clash if either Papalii or Soliola are unavailable.
The Raiders will also be without Curtis Scott for another week because of his leg injury.