Josh Papalii anointed Maroons’ “bodyguard” by Cameron Munster, veteran urged to cut loose on NSW in Origin farewell

Josh Papalii has been anointed by the Maroons as “the bodyguard” who will strike fear into the Blues in the decider. It comes as a Maroons legend urges the veteran to leave a mark in his Origin farewell.

Maroons skipper Cameron Munster has anointed returning enforcer Josh Papalii “the bodyguard” who will put fear into the Blues as the Queensland legend was told to cut loose in his Origin farewell.

Papalii landed in Camp Maroon on Wednesday to begin preparations for his 24th and final State of Origin appearance for Queensland.

The 33-year-old front rower has been called out of representative retirement by Queensland coach Billy Slater for an Origin swansong in next Wednesday’s series decider in Sydney.

Papalii is expected to depart the NRL at the end of the season and head to the Super League given the 321-game Canberra legend doesn’t want to play against his beloved Raiders.

Papalii was granted leave from camp to spend time with his family in Canberra following the birth of baby boy Jeremiah last Friday.

He arrived on the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday in time for Queensland’s first proper training session and Maroons legend Trevor Gillmeister urged ‘Big Papa’ to rip and tear.

“Just blow your gasket in the first 20 or 30 minutes and go hard,” said ‘The Axe’ Gillmeister.

“We have got Alpha males here in Tino (Fa’asuamaleaui) and Lindsay Collins and other blokes as well but Papa is the older, settling influence.

“Nothing seems to rattle him and he plays like that. How good is he playing for the Raiders at the moment? Outstanding.

“I played at the Broncos with Gavin Allen and Glenn Lazarus and you knew they were going to do their job. You know big Papa is going to do his job.

Josh Papalii has been anointed “the bodyguard” by Cameron Munster. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“He’s just such a good fella. That doesn’t get you Origin jerseys but it helps a little bit. When the shit hits the fan he will be there in the middle of it.

“It’s not like a token thing. He’s playing really good footy and scoring tries close to the line.”

Papalii made his Origin debut for Queensland in 2013 and quickly established himself as a key member of Mal Meninga’s record-breaking Maroons.

He announced his rep retirement in the lead-up to the 2023 series as he faced being overlooked for selection.

Josh Papalii is in great form for the Raiders in 2025. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

But Papalii has burst back to his best for the ladder-leading Raiders this season and the Maroons have lacked midfield mongrel in the opening two games of the series.

Papalii is expected to change that, replacing dropped Titans prop Moeaki Fotuaika to form a fearsome front row with Fa’asuamaleaui.

“He brings a lot of that belief and that steely eye when you have him beside you,” Munster said of Papalii.

“It brings a bit of fear in people’s faces. You don’t want to be running around annoying Big Papa.

“He’s probably our bodyguard and he’s one of those enforcers. Taking him down to foreign territory is going to be good for us.

“Papa’s probably playing career-best footy at the Raiders. When you’ve got someone playing footy like that, it brings a lot of confidence in this group.

“A lot of the boys are pretty excited to see him in camp. It’s going to be interesting because a couple of years ago we obviously had a farewell for him.”

Maroons hooker Harry Grant said he couldn’t wait to pack into the front row with Papalii.

“Everyone is really looking forward to big Paps getting back in camp and the presence and aura that he brings to the team,” he said.

“He’s a scary man to play against and one of the hardest blokes I’ve had to tackle because he is so wide and has got so many options to his game.

“He brings so much to the group and he’s done so much for this group. Big Tino and Patty (Carrigan) will be the two happiest blokes to see him once he rolls in.

“He’s a protector and warrior of the team and has been for so many years. You know how much Queensland means to him. Every series he has been messaging and saying ‘good luck and go well’ to the boys and now he is back.

“He never lost that attachment to the group and how much the Origin series means even though he wasn’t in the team for a couple of years. “

Originally published as Josh Papalii anointed Maroons’ “bodyguard” by Cameron Munster, veteran urged to cut loose on NSW in Origin farewell