NRL 2021: Parramatta Eels’ Isaiah Papali’i looking to smash Brandon Smith in Storm clash

He was a revelation for the Eels in Round One, but now Isaiah Papali’i has just one goal – to smash one of Melbourne’s gun forwards.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 27: Clint Gutherson of the Eels runs the ball during the NRL Trial Match between the Penrith Panthers and the Parramatta Eels at Panthers Stadium on February 27, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

Isaiah Papali’i joined Parramatta for a fresh start and already has emerged as the player who might redefine what it means to be a bench forward in modern NRL.

But for now the former New Zealand Warrior has a more pressing task, to smash Melbourne’s ‘Cheese’, hooker Brandon Smith, when the two sides clash at Bankwest Stadium on Thursday night.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph Papali’i did not hesitate to name Smith as the player in Melbourne’s pack with a target on his back.

“I’ll be looking for the Cheese, maybe smash him,” Papali’i said with a laugh.

“We played Junior Kiwis together, we’re mates. There is no bad blood there, just a bit of healthy competition.

“Everyone sees how he plays. He just goes balls out and goes hard every minute on the field.”

After four seasons and 63 games for the Warriors, Papali’i went searching for a new club last year even though there was an offer on the table to stay in New Zealand.

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Papali’i is ready to test himself against the Storm. Digital image by Scott Davis, NRL Photos

A Zoom call with Eels coach Brad Arthur while Papali’i was in quarantine in New Zealand was enough to convince the 22-year old that Parramatta’s two-year deal was too good of an opportunity to refuse.

“There wasn’t a conversation with the Warriors, it was something my manager and I sat down to talk about,” Papali’i said.

“At the end of year, I just felt like personally I had plateaued a bit so I wanted to seek some growth and change my environment.

“Wherever you go, you are going to learn something different.

“I had a good four years there but it was time to pack and go.”

Papali’i arrived in Sydney’s west with ambitions to play as an edge backrower.

But with Ryan Matterson and Shane Lane already established in the second row, Arthur has opted to go with rising forward on the bench.

The Te Atatu Roosters junior performance against Brisbane in round one not only cemented Papali’i signature as an astute recruitment decision but has given a glimpse into how the NRL’s new rules will redefine the role of a bench forward.

In a stunning club debut from the bench, Papali’i made 193 metres from 18 runs for 79 post contact meters, made three tackle busts and an offload in 58 minutes.

Papali’i with teammate Keegan Hipgrave after beating Brisbane in round one. Nathan Hopkins, NRL Photos

According to skipper Clint Gutherson, the game’s new rules will transform the role of a bench forward into a specialist position and will no longer be there just to provide respite for tired players.

And the fullback believes new teammate Papali’i, who is the smallest forward in the Eels’ pack, is the perfect prototype.

“He had 15 or 16 carries out there in the back end of that second half and he was great,” Gutherson said.

“He set-up a few tries for us with his play the balls and we need him to do that every week when he is coming off the bench.

“Especially with these new rules the bench is such a critical position now, they will be specialist players out there that can change the game and Ice [Papali’i] did that for us on the weekend.”

Even Papali’i, who started the pre-season wanting to snare a starting spot in the second row, now believes the mobile bench forward could potentially have the biggest impact on a game’s result.

“I definitely think I can be effective in that sense because I can be a bit more nippy through the middle when the tired bigger bodies out there struggle to move laterally,” Papali’i said.

“If I can stay healthy and keep getting fitter through the season it will help when it comes to crunch time, in the back end of games, where people are a lot more tired than under the old rules.”

‘NEVER FELT SO TIRED’: PLAYERS REVEAL BATTLE WITH NEW RULES

Even Clint Gutherson, arguably the game’s fittest player, has admitted to being ‘absolutely rooted’ after round one’s clash against Brisbane under the NRL’s new rules.

After introducing set-restarts for ruck infringements in round three of 2020, the NRL then added eight more rules which included a set-restart for off-side infringements and a play-the-ball restart when a player or ball finds touch rather than a scrum.

The changes were made in a bid encourage an even faster, more free flowing style of football and to keep the ball in play as long as possible to introduce fatigue into a match.

But even endurance type players, like Gutherson, found themselves struggling to get through the full 80 minutes of football.

“To be honest, I was absolutely rooted by the end of the game,” Gutherson told The Daily Telegraph.

“I couldn’t move with about 10 minutes to go, I was just trying to do my job until the end.

“We only had the one trial match so still getting the body right, hopefully it will be better come Thursday.”

The numbers show the ball was in play for around three minutes less in round one compared to round three in 2020, when the set restart was first introduced.

Despite the less ball in play over round one, matches have been played with such intensity that Eels five-eighth Dylan Brown wanted a water break at each quarter during the Eels night match against the Broncos, like in the New Zealand Warriors and Gold Coast Titans games that was played on Saturday afternoon in 30 degree heat.

Clint Gutherson is one of the game’s fittest players, but even he has admitted the new rules will take a lot out of players.

“Out there, I’ve never felt so tired,” Brown said.

“I don’t know if you noticed but in that last 20 minutes both teams were off their feet.

“That’s the biggest challenge this year is just being able to stick in for the whole 80 minutes for 25 rounds. I was jealous of the Warriors who had the drinks breaks.”

Gutherson, who is Parramatta’s new ‘Mr Perpetual Motion’, the tag given to club legend Ray Price for his tenacity, covered just over nine kilometres on the Suncorp Stadium turf last Thursday.

The skipper believes side’s with the most endurance capacity under fatigue will be the most successful in season 2021.

“I think so, endurance will play a big part,” Gutherson said.

“Everyone will just adapt to the new rules, the best teams adapt the best, hopefully we are one of them.

“With the new rules it will take some time to work out exactly how to play, how to use your bench, when to attack. You need to consider all those things under the new rules.”

The Eels managed a 24-16 come from behind win last in the season opener but were out-enthused by an unfancied Broncos outfit that burst to a 16-nill lead at halftime.

Gutherson is well aware a similar start against reigning premiers, the Storm, on Thursday, will only leave his side further behind on the scoreboard.

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“Look, I think we did well to be only 16 points down. If it was anymore it would have been a tough ask. But the way we come out in the second half was pleasing,” Gutherson said.

“We have to be a lot better against Melbourne otherwise it could be 30 at half time.”

The Eels have only beaten Melbourne four times in the last 10 years and have lost all three finals matches played during that time (2017, 2019, 2020).

Gutherson is hoping the home ground advantage at Bankwest Stadium on Thursday night will give the Eels the edge needed to overcome Craig Bellamy’s men.

“Melbourne are always going to be good. It’s just who they are. It’s in their DNA,” Gutherson said.

“They have won plenty of comps over the years. I think many teams find it hard to beat Melbourne, it’s not just us.

“We are going to do our best this week to beat them. We’ll be at home, hopefully in front of a big crowd and we are looking forward to the challenge.”