June 3, 2025 • 36 mins
Canberra Raider #300, Josh Papalii, joins Chris Coleman ahead of his record breaking 319th game for the Green Machine. Josh discusses his childhood, what lead him to Canberra, how he nearly left (twice), his ups, his downs, his playing future and much more!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Super Serious Sports Show with Chris Coleman and Adam Janssen.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Welcome to this Super serious sports show special as we
resurrect the brand for a bit of a one off
here with a man who you could say is possibly
the modern day essence of the canber Raiders. This coming
weekend against South Sydney, he will don the jersey and
run out to play for the Camber Raiders in game
three hundred and nineteen. It's a very rare achievement to
(00:27):
become the most capped player at a rugby league club
and this man is about to do that. Josh, Papa Lee,
great of you to come in for a chat.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Oh, thanks for having us on.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Let's go right back to the beginning. We've got all
the time in the world here, so let's go right
back to the beginning. How did you wind up? A
kid from New Zealand who moves to Brisbane about the
age of five winds up in Canberra. How'd that happen?
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Yeah? Yeah, obviously, born in New Zealand, Auckland back in
ninety two, Mum makes the move with my little brother,
find ourselves in Brisbane, Logan with a lot of cousins, uncles,
and Aunties, and at the age of sixteen, I signed
(01:09):
a contract with the Camber Raiders. South Slogan was the
affiliated club at the time. And yeah, I made the
move down in the end of nine and I've been
here ever since.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
I want to go back and talk about People are
going to think this is odd now looking at you now,
but I want to talk about little Josh a right,
how good a football it was, little Josh.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Yeah, I'd probably say I was okay, you know, I
started on the wing I had, you know, I didn't well, yeah,
a good set of wheels on myself and yeah, and
then just slowly made my way in played Censors for
a long time. Yeah, obviously won all the backyard games
(01:54):
against my cousins and brothers, and yeah, obviously just love
love playing footy and I found myself in Canberra.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Okay, you're a one club man, So tell us a
little bit more about the moment. What do you remember
of the canber Raiders coming. Were they the first club?
Were they the only club to talk to you at
that time?
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Yeah, there was, there was a few other clubs, but
my my dad insisted me in taking the canber Raiders contract.
He wanted me to stay out of Sydney, and obviously
I didn't want me to stay in Brisbane as well.
He thought the best move for myself was to travel
(02:35):
to Canberra, you know, and I trusted in that decision
many years ago. And you know, I'm so thankful that
the canber Raiders came chasing, you know, and I signed
with Canberra back in No.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Eight.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
And yeah, like I said before, it's a decision I'm
I'll cherish for a long time.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Does that mean we should be getting a campaign started
to get a statue built of your old man because
it's his.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
But he probably wouldn't even know have a spouse that
you made look at it. Yeah, like I said before,
the decision that I think molded me as a as
a man and as a player.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Do you want to tell us what other clubs were
sniffing around you as as a as a teenager?
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (03:18):
I looked at you know, obviously just the the clubs
that were coming out to do their scouting jobs. I
think the Dogs and Roosters were were I think the
other major clubs. But look they've obviously recruited well, you know,
Rest in peace, skull Pete mchullan, who was the selector
(03:41):
for Bulldogs back in the day, actually told me the
story of it was out of me and Josh Jackson,
you know, many years ago, and they they went with
Josh Jackson and I made the move to Canberra. So
you know, there's Bulldogs obviously didn't lose out there and
I didn't lose out here.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
On the way since then, three hundred and eighteen games
playing for Canberra, well documented that. What was that twelve
years ago? Now you signed with paramatter and you did
the backflip that judges to this day are still giving
nine point seven and nine point eight two.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Yeah, it's Look, it's probably another decision in my life.
You know, I'm grateful to to pass on. You know,
I did sign the contract with Power. I did want
to go play for Ricky Stewart when he was the
Paramattic coach.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Because that's the thing, that's the timing, that's the sliding
doors moment there is that Ricky was the coach, you
signed with Paramata, you backflip, and then Ricky's not the coach,
and then Ricky's the coach here.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Yeah, I think, yeah, a lot of people sort of
just look at it one way, you know, I obviously
wanted to play for Ricky Stewart. I knew who he
was as a player. Camber edits player, but I wanted
to experience the coaching side of Ricky Stewart. And you know,
just listening to the stories, you know at the World Cup,
(05:02):
you know, before the other legends that that we're there,
they said Ricky shuw was a straight shooter, and I
love that, you know. I love a coach who who
loves you for the person you are, and I just
wanted to go play under him. And yeah, like I
said before, thankful backflip. You know, I chose to stay
and a few weeks later Ricky Stewart left. Parron made
(05:25):
his way to camera as well.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
You're gonna jump around a little bit at this point
because you raised Ricky being a straight shooter. Has that
always sat well with you? I'm thinking back a couple
of years, it was pretty well publicized that you weren't
entirely happy You've got a week or two off.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Yeah, look, I I've always said it.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
I'm happy of the coach I played for.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
You know, Ricky Stewart is a straight shooter, which is
something I love in a coach. And yeah, obviously fust
at the time, you know, getting dropped. I felt like
at the time I wasn't playing the worst, but obviously
he wasn't playing the best either, So you know, Ricky
always makes the best move for the club, and uh,
(06:13):
that was the best move for for the team at
the time, and you know I paid the price. I
went and played New Cell Worlds Cup. I went and
played a Q Cup for a few weeks, and yeah,
obviously made my way back in the team. And you know,
looking back on it, Ricky Stewarts always had what would
I say, there's the best interest for for the player.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
So thankful.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
The kickup, you bum you needd, you reckon.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
I think it was.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Yeah, I think I was just very comfortable, you know obviously,
you know, like like the World Cup.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
I went to World Cup.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
You know, I got massive, uh you know, drank too
much pisson ate, too much food, and I came back
in the state where he wasn't happy.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
So it is what it is.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Let's do a couple of queens and then come back
across three hundred plus games with the Camber Raiders. Who's
been your most fun teammate all of you, Like, who's
been the biggest pain in the ass. I'm happy to
go either way there.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
Look, I probably can't go past. Stalo is probably the
funniest man I've ever met. You know, he just makes
me laugh, probably the size, you know, how funny is
he does carry on the on the piss and then
obviously just when he's sober. He's just just a funny man.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
What about a player you wish you'd played for, played with?
Out of all the opponents, and there's hundreds of them,
who's the player you wish you'd had a chance to play.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
With play with? Probably Sammy Burgess. I think just how
tough he is, just what he stood for. I just
loved how he just went about his business. So yeah,
Sammy Burgess. There's a whisper he's going to involved in
Perth with melman Inger over there. It's only a couple
(08:05):
of years away. Are you young enough? Definitely not young enough.
But if they're looking for old head, I'll pull my
hand up, all right.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
What about your toughest opponent anyone you've come up against
and you thought, I just don't really like going up
against this guy.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Oh, probably Sammy Burgess.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Okayama, Yeah, just just tough as nails. Yeah, let's get
back to the to the story signing with Paramatter and
then doing the bat. That's not the only time reportedly
you've come close to leaving the club. It's not been
as well documented, but there are a lot of people
(08:43):
who say you were this close to going too South Sydney.
Was it that close?
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Probably not as close as people say, but yeah, there
was definitely an opportunity there.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
This one hasn't been told a lot so and I
don't know if you've ever had the chance to tell
it in your own words, the flaws yours.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
Yeah, so I obviously got a hefty deal from from self.
They were gonna fly me down and obviously meet Russell Crowe,
you know, who's one of my favorite actors. And yeah,
they obviously sent a massive contract to come and play
back round for them. At the time, the game was
a bit a bit slower, so you know, my power
(09:24):
game in the background would have suited their team at
the time. And yeah, I chose to stay for a
lot more a lot less money, and we did something
special here and I think looking back now, you know
I don't regret that decision neither.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Let's talk origin footy. How special Is that for you
on top of your Raiders' career.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Yeah, it's obviously.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Yeah, it's something I'm proud of because you got interest
at the tail end of that eight in a row.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Yeah, I caught the Yeah, the aid in the road.
In twenty thirteen, I played Game two. In Game three,
New so Well was won the first game and yeah,
obviously just playing playing for the Morons, putting that jersey
on something I grew up watching and you know, dream
dreamt of that, that moment of representing you know, the
(10:22):
Morons and our people, you know, in the state, and
to do that in twenty thirteen was Yeah, definitely a
dream come true.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
There are people saying, and I've seen it in the
papers in the since the first game this year, can
we get him back? I think I think that response.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Look, I you know, I love my state, I love Queensland,
and look I'm two years post retired from Origin footy.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
But look, if if you ever get the.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
Core from I guess Billy Slater or the Queens and Maroons,
you know you would never say no, even even if
you are retired.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Or Alma Langer came back from England.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
You know, I'm always yeah, keeping that door open, but
at the same at the same time, I don't want
to disrespect the people that's in there at the moment.
You know, I feel like Queensland have picked the best
team to win the series and so I think Rick,
I think Billy will pick and stick and they can
(11:32):
do the job.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Let's talk about the other reporter. You've played. You've played
for Australia, you've played for somehow obviously both special. What's
different between playing for Australia and playing for some are.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
Oh, look, I think it would be the cultural difference.
You know, I'm yes, I'm born in New Zealand, but
I consider myself Ozzie. I grew up in the Logan
and you know, the Australian way. And but at the
end of the day, the difference is culture. You know,
when when you look at my identity, who I am
(12:07):
as a person, who my parents are as people, you know,
there's some more. So I would say that's the difference.
And you know, I played for Australia, played for some more.
You know, happy to do both. But you know, when
when you play for Australian win a World Cup, it's
probably just as special. If you were to win a
world couple some war as well. So yeah, I think
(12:32):
the difference is Australia's probably got millions.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
More people, but it doesn't feel different when you're wearing
the blue jersey as opposed to the grain and gold.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Yeah, I think so.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
You know, like I touched on before, the identity of
who you are as a person, you know, who my
kids are.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
Yeah, I think it is.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
You know, when I put that blue jersey on, you know,
you just represent more than you know, that team, that nation.
You represent the motherland or some more the kids that are,
you know, struggling back at home. And you know, I'm
not saying that you don't do that when you play
for the Aussie team, but you know, Australia just have
the resources that some more don't. So if you look
(13:16):
at it as as a fair game, well it's never
fair because Australia is bigger and got more people, but
you know it does mean more in one sense.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Let's go on to some other special moments. What do
you remember of Game one off the bench against Melbourne
in twenty eleven.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Yeah, so I spoke about this the other day.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
I don't remember much, but what I do remember is
my first carry, you know, I got stepped halfway through
my little stint.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
Billy Slater got me.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
And then obviously just seeing Cameron Smith, you know after
many years, you know, I played with his younger brother Smith.
His dad was my coach who was Wayne Smith and
then rest in Peace as well his mum who was
my manager for a long time. And yeah, I just
(14:11):
remember seeing Camera Smith again and I was like, this
kid's a Logan boy as well. So that's all I
remember from my debut.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
What else from the early days from that first season,
because you remember you first try.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Yeah, first try was against the Broncos. I remember that
because debut game. Family couldn't make it and it was
sort of last minute debut and so they couldn't make Melbourne.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
But a few weeks.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
Later I played the Broncos up in sun Corp and yeah,
my family turned up in numbers, probably half of Logan
turned up to sun Corp. And I actually scored a
double that day and my first try and my second
one was right in front of the family. So that
was a special moment for myself.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
We won't talk about the result, no, no, just move on.
It was a magic game of football. Actually, what's a
good game. Other magic moments what I've got a couple
here from spectator or commentator point of view, But what
are your magic moments? From going right back? You got
fifteen years to choose from.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Yeah, well you can't go past the debut. That's always
going to be a magic moment for myself, especially you
know this week coming up, you know, and sort of
you know, rewriting the history books, and you always think
about the first game, not the three hundred and nineteenth,
So that's always going to be a magic moment. You know,
(15:38):
our team in twenty twelve, we had such a good
run and then obviously got beat by South Sydney, and
then you talk about twenty sixteen and in twenty nineteen.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
But I'd say my.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Favorite moment in the Cambridge Jersey would have to be
the prelim in twenty nineteen.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
A really special game.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
Yeah, just can't take.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
That feeling away from you know, the camera people turning
up in numbers, you know, setting a new crowd record,
and then just how the game was at the time
as well. It was such a tough game back and forth,
and you know that that moment we are scored the try.
I just a lot of emotion, you know, looking at uh,
(16:25):
you know guys that I played with my whole career,
Jack Wyden, you know Jared Coker, you know ce Hodgo,
you know Joe Tapaney.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
These are these are the kids that we.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
Grew up trying to build something special and you know
that movement defined it for sure.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
That was a real purple patch for you that week
and the week before against Melbourne. I'm not sure if
you're aware the Raiders the only side that have got
a winning record in Melbourne outside of Melbourne. I'm not
sure if you're aware of that. Oh, we're definitely aware.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
You know.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Obviously we know Sticky's real good meats with bally X.
You know, there's always extra video sessions and extra tackling sessions.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
So how good was it at lang Park this year
to get him on their second home base.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
Yeah, look at I think we're just playing a nice
brand or at the moment.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
We'll get to that, we'll get to this year.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
So yeah, No, I think every time we play Melbourne
we know it's going to be tough and gritty. So yeah,
I think we just have the formula at the moment
to play Melbourne.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
But but yeah, those those two weeks in twenty nineteen.
Does it get any better than that? Well, I guess
it can.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
Yeah, obviously, yeah it can.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
By winning the comp and saying that, you know, they're
the moments that you sort of trained for. Was yeah,
pretty special.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
There's a video and I know that your son Noah
plays it to you, and I know that Jamma hates
you looking at it. But the time you ran him
down Jamal Foger when he was playing for the Gold Coast. Now,
of course he's a teammate. Talk to me about that.
You know, that's just one of those out of the blue.
Did I just see that?
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (18:06):
I did, but my brain's still not accepting that. I've
just seen it for you living that, you know, because
he's not slow. I'm not saying you're not quick, but
he's not slow.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
Yeah. I think it was just a good timing thing,
you know. I was.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
I sort of if you actually look back on context
of the proper game, I didn't keep chase, so I
didn't fully go up. I was like, oh, that kicks
too long, so I'll just wait back here. And then
I saw Jamal start running and I thought, well, he's
going in between da damas Lewis and tom Starling and
they sort of missed the ankle a tack not long before,
(18:43):
so I was like, you know, I've better put my
foot down, and yeah, Jamal could have made me look
silly if he actually just spent for the corner, but
he's sort of tried to come back around under the
post and I had one chance in one moment, and
I took it. And yeah, now, buddy smugglers, these nice
budgies and they've captured that moment.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
And I hope you get royalties for those.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
I'll tell you, Oh, I get enough budgies for sure,
So thank you Budgies smugglers.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
But what I do love is there's that there's a
saying about you know people who walk walk around they
walking on the shoulders of giants. Right, You've just a
bit of there that for that ankle tap, you're walking
around on the shoulders of Tommy Starling and you know
he's a long as long from Vagina as you can get.
Let's get outside of footy for a couplements and then
and then circle back outside of footy. Family life is
(19:33):
obviously really good for you. Here in Canberra, there have
been some bumps on the road here in the nation's capital.
Let's not gloss over that. I don't know how much
you want to talk about, but there have been some bumps.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
Yeah, there's there's been some hurdles, you know, things I'm
I'm not proud of as a person and as a
as a player as well. You know, I think when
I'm going through those hurdles and those tough times, I've
forgotten my identity. I've forgotten who I represent in Canberra
as well. And you know, I look back on my
(20:09):
decisions that I've made in the past and you know,
being real selfish with the decisions I've made, so you know,
I've if I could take the time, do you apologize
to anyone that I've hurt in the past as well too?
You know, I know my actions haven't been the best.
(20:29):
You know I've laid and so as my my families.
You know, I think it's it can be an ugly look,
especially for myself being uh, you know, the most cap raidar,
you know, being here the longest, and that's just not
the picture or the identity you want to pass over
to young kids growing up wanting to be the next
(20:51):
canber Raider. Wanting to be you know, a normal you
know father out there as well, because I'm also a husband,
a far I'm also a son to you know, my
parents as well. And you know, when I look back
on on that, I want to be the best I
can be, not only for myself, for my family as well.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
So do you talk to the young kids, And I'm
not talking here about so that the Jamals and the Ethans.
We've got multiple young Ethans. I'll talk about the kids
who come in for the ball and the flag and
they'd see you and it'd be, oh my god, that's
Josh Papa. You know. Do you talk to them about
stuff like that, about the stuff that can happen away
(21:34):
from the footy field and it just happens like that,
It doesn't happen, It doesn't have to build up. It
can happen real quick.
Speaker 3 (21:40):
Yeah, I do.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
You know, I'm if you know me at the Camberretras
that they now, I'm an open book, and Ricky Stewart
knows that if if one of the young boys needed
talking to, I'm always willing to put my hand up
to you know, share experience I can.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
You know.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
The good thing about me is I've done you know,
things I'm proud of on the field, but then I've
got the other life as well. So you know, I've
done bad good off field as well, So I've I've
experienced them both, and you know, obviously you know some
I'm not proud of. But you know, if if young
(22:18):
boys need to learn off someone, you know, just have
a look at my career.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Fair enough, we'll move. Actually, no, there's one other thing.
Is it true you wanted to be a priest.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
Yeah, what kind of a priest would this? This is?
Speaker 2 (22:31):
This is the good stuff?
Speaker 1 (22:32):
Now yeah, not not not a you know, a priest,
but you know, a youth Back in the day, it
was like a youth care youth pastor. You know, I
was going church at the time. I'm still going church now.
We watch online with Life. You see Canberra out at
Charnwood with Pastor Sean and Pastor Linda as well. They
(22:54):
do obviously a great job with a lot of the
young canber Raiders as well and young Brumby players. But yeah,
I did want to be, you know, in that youth
sort of ministry, you know, just helping the young young
kids coming through.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
And I mean I went to Catholic school and I've
still got scars on the knuckles from the nuns. That's
a bit before your time. But you know you wouldn't
have been one of.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Those nah nah, But I should have. I should have
been in that little bad room you and but yeah, yeah,
I would have loved to be still still desired to
be one in the near future, so hopefully I can.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
Have a chance to become.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
I've got one more off yourd question, then we'll start
talking about for you again. Sammy Rose from The Raiders
on Mixed Team. She loves your hair, she has said specifically,
can I ask what's your hair care routine?
Speaker 3 (23:47):
So?
Speaker 2 (23:48):
Is there anything special about about what you do with
your hair or is that just the natural just probaly,
I'm gonna let it grow.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
Yeah, no, no, So I I coppy a lot of
crap from all the boys because I'm I'm going thin
on top. So I obviously washed my hair conditioner shampoo.
But what I do after is, you know, the hair moisturizers.
I give it a brush every day, you know, I
(24:14):
do put my hair up and try it like you know,
like I'm a chick. So and the boys always taking
photos of me and the sheds and but yeah, I
take good.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
Care of my hair.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
I never thought i'd be asking you that, but yeah,
I put I put the question out to the Raiders
on Mixed team. I said, have you got hair wash?
And that that came in so hair moisturizer.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
That's yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
If you've seen me, how old are you been? Nineteen
ninety five ninety six, you would have been what three
four years old? Yeah? Yeah, when you were three or four
years old, I had a glorious mullet. It every bit
as good as yours. Now it's the number one on
the side, number three on the top. Too much mucking
around to take care of it. All right, Let's let's
talk about footy again. How proud are you of the
(24:58):
multiple melmann Inger Metal?
Speaker 1 (25:01):
Obviously very proud. It's a it's such a massive honor
to receive a medallion that your peers are voted for.
It's a it's an award that's awarded to, you know, the
best inferiest of the team. And I just always look
at it as as an award that could have went
(25:23):
to any anyone in the squad, and it went to
one person.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
But yeah, always proud.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
I think when I look at a certain medal, for
a certain year. It has a lot of not scars,
but a lot of sacrifice into those certain years.
Speaker 3 (25:43):
You know.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
I remember sixteen was off the back of you know,
me being dropped and you know, early in my career,
and then you know, eighteen, I've been dropped again, and
then you know, being picked from origin from newsa Wells Cup.
That was tough, but yeah, needed to be done. It
(26:06):
was the kick up the bum that I needed. And
then nineteen was you know, it was all on deck
and I had such a special year.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
Nineteen.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
I felt happy off field, I was happy on field,
and I was just performing.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
And then twenty twenty to share it.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
With one of my closest mates, Jack whiteon you know,
he had a massive season as well, and you had
to share the medal where Jack was something special as well.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
This Sunday, two o'clock in the afternoon, you run out
at Goo Stadium by one of those wonderful quirks of scheduling.
I don't know if the NROL planned it, but it's
Raiders for South Jack White and I'll be lining up
there for the opposition. What does that feel like? What
is that going to feel like? Do you have any
idea knowing that one of your best mates is there
(26:56):
on the other side.
Speaker 1 (26:57):
Yeah, I think it's well, he's been our salves for
few years now, so you know that that playing against
your your best mates have gone a bit easier. And
I know Jack as a person, he you know, he's
a very loyal and passionate person as well, so he
would want to be doing the best for his jersey
and himself as well. So yeah, no mixed emotions, just
(27:20):
you know, it's a job we have to do. Canberra
have to win a game, self have to win a game.
So you know, obviously all that personal stuff pushed to
a side and we're just playing footy.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
Game three eighteen done, game three nineteen coming. Obviously you're
closer to the end than than the beginning. How much
further is there for Josh Papoley in a green jersey?
It's your last year of your contract. Everyone knows that. Yeah,
is this it is this the Swan song? Are you
hoping you can get another year out of it?
Speaker 3 (27:52):
What? What?
Speaker 2 (27:52):
What are you feeling at the moment?
Speaker 3 (27:54):
Yeah, I'm feeling good. It's probably the best my body
has felt.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
Your role has changed. I should say that you really
become now that impact player off the bench, much more
than the starting battering ram.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Yeah, and I feel like I'm enjoying that role. I
feel like me and the benches are doing a really
good job on coming in, you know, assisting the starters.
You know, Big Red, Joe, Taps and Morgan, they're doing
a really good job. And me Utter and you know, Owen,
We're on the bench and we're playing less minutes, but
(28:26):
we're we're just doing as much damage as the starters.
So you know, I'm really enjoying my role at the
moment as a as a bench player. I feel like
I'm obviously a bit more experienced than the younger boys,
but yeah, just going on and enjoying my time. My
body's feeling good, my mind's fresh. But yeah, look, I
(28:48):
think when it comes to the end of twenty twenty five,
it would be the last time people see myself in
a green jersey. And that's just where the club's are
at the moment and where I'm at the moment. Obviously,
I would love to keep playing on, but it just
won't be in camera.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
Are you comfortable with that? Is there a lingering disappointment
that it comes to an end?
Speaker 3 (29:09):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (29:09):
Look, that I'd be lying if I'd say there wasn't
because I love camera and you're not going to find
too many, too many players that's going to bleed you know,
green more than I do, you know, especially when you
know I play this weekend, you know, and obviously I
rewrite the history books, you know, I can. I can
(29:30):
honestly say that no one bleeds green more than me.
So yeah, look, I love this club, I love the community,
I love camera, and look, I'll be back in the
near future. But yeah, playing wives, Yeah, I really hope
myself and the squad do something special this year for sure.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
Okay, I was very silly on the radio just before
the Round two game against the Broncos, and Chris Nan
and Nige have the tape of me saying the Raiders
are going to go all the way and win the
whole thing this year. Now, I may have said that
in multiple years going back, but she this year's side,
it's looking good. I mean, there is a lot of
(30:17):
the West Tigers two thousand and five. There is a
lot of in the back line. I don't know whether
you've looked at the tapes, but the ninety four back
line was exciting. Yeah, there were better known players there,
but the excitement now of players like Xavier Savage, Maddie
Timmoco said, Chris Ethan in the halves and I'm leaving
(30:37):
guys out there, but you know there's some excitement there.
I won't ask you, are the Raiders going to win
the whole thing? That's a silly question to ask a player.
But how confident should Raiders fans be? Should they be
really starting to think that this is a big possibility.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
I think the feeling within the community tells you. The
story tells you the answer on how the Camber readers
have got you know, the camera fans just they don't
turn out in numbers for no reason. And when I'm
a fan in the near future, I'll be turning up
because I know that feeling. I know the camera team
(31:13):
will do well. And you know, I won't say we're
going to win the competition, because that's always the plan,
that's always the that's the final destination. But I feel
like we are going to do something special at the
end of twenty twenty five. I feel like we will
be there thereabouts, and we just need to keep our
(31:36):
head down, keep working hard, and the results will look
after itself.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
We've been talking for about half an hour and now
I've probably got a million other things I could ask you,
but I want to leave the last bit to you,
Josh Papali As you're coming up on setting the Cambra
Raiders all time caps record. It's a record that's going
to stand for quite some time. I think. Obviously there
(32:03):
are people who have helped you out on the way
that you're going to want to say thank you to.
There is maybe some shout outs you want to give,
the flaws yours. Is there anything anything you want to
say anyone you want to think it's all yours.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
Ah, that's obviously might take a while, but yeah, obviously
thank my parents, my wife, my kids, you know, my
coaches in the past, you know, my teachers that have
had to put up with, you know, the silly me,
the me turning up to school and only focusing on footy.
(32:44):
You know my cousins, my uncles and aunties that help
my parents. I guess raise a kid from New Zealand
and logan to chase this dream. And I think without
my inner circle, uh, this this record ain't ain't possible
without the people that you know, put trust and sacrifice
(33:08):
into myself, so they obviously get the big thanks, but
you know, a massive thank you would have to go
to the Canberraiders, you know, just taking their time and
sacrifice into a kid from Logan who they didn't know
much about, and they put in time and a lot
(33:29):
of time into my craft. And look, I can honestly
say I haven't had the cleanest path, but Camber is
always stuck by me. And you know I've always stuck
by the Camber Raiders and that's a relationship that that
is unbreakable.
Speaker 3 (33:46):
You know. I'm always here for the club and the
club knows that.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
And I would just like to obviously thank you, uh,
you know, thank everyone involved in the Camber Raiders. And
but if I could just mention a special thank you
to obviously Ricky Stewart. You know, he's not only my coach,
but he's he's a close maid of mine. You know,
what he's done for me off field has obviously made
(34:15):
our relationship a lot closer than what it is, you know,
with the assistance of myself as a player as a person,
helping my my family off field issues and just loving
my kids like it's his own, and assisting my child
with autism like it's his own and that love he
(34:38):
has for my kids, that yeah, it's unheard of. And
you know the past players I played with, you know
the players that I play with now, you know, I
can't thank them enough. And the players that have gone by,
and you know before us who have dorn the mighty agreement.
Speaker 3 (34:57):
Green Machine Jersey. You know, I can't think there's guys enough.
Speaker 1 (35:01):
So yeah, if I've missed anyone else, thank you as well,
love you or.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
Josh Tuffay, this has been just an awesome experience. Just
actually sit and have a chat. You know, the people
who said to me, O, Josh is a much of
a talker, You're not going to get much out of it.
We could go for another hour, I reckon, it wouldn't
be a problem. I'm not going to do that. You've
got a whole week to prepare for a very important
game for the club. Let's not forget that the Raiders
are in the midst of a very very strong campaign.
(35:30):
You're up against South's coached by the Genius, so you know,
there's a lot to prepare for. All the best this weekend.
I hope that somewhere in amongst everything you get a
minute to enjoy it and soak it in. And I
hope that we are talking in October and you've got
a very nice shiny championship ring on your finger.
Speaker 3 (35:50):
No, that would be nice.
Speaker 1 (35:52):
Yeah, obviously, thank you for taking your time to you know,
interview old Blokelock myself. And and like I, like I
said before, obviously see you in October with a nice
little shiny ring.
Speaker 3 (36:06):
That would be nice.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
It sounds like a good player. I'll hold you to it.
Speaker 4 (36:09):
Thank you mate, Amplify cbr H
The Super Serious Sports Show with Chris Coleman and Adam Janssen.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Welcome to this Super serious sports show special as we
resurrect the brand for a bit of a one off
here with a man who you could say is possibly
the modern day essence of the canber Raiders. This coming
weekend against South Sydney, he will don the jersey and
run out to play for the Camber Raiders in game
three hundred and nineteen. It's a very rare achievement to
(00:27):
become the most capped player at a rugby league club
and this man is about to do that. Josh, Papa Lee,
great of you to come in for a chat.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Oh, thanks for having us on.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Let's go right back to the beginning. We've got all
the time in the world here, so let's go right
back to the beginning. How did you wind up? A
kid from New Zealand who moves to Brisbane about the
age of five winds up in Canberra. How'd that happen?
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Yeah? Yeah, obviously, born in New Zealand, Auckland back in
ninety two, Mum makes the move with my little brother,
find ourselves in Brisbane, Logan with a lot of cousins, uncles,
and Aunties, and at the age of sixteen, I signed
(01:09):
a contract with the Camber Raiders. South Slogan was the
affiliated club at the time. And yeah, I made the
move down in the end of nine and I've been
here ever since.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
I want to go back and talk about People are
going to think this is odd now looking at you now,
but I want to talk about little Josh a right,
how good a football it was, little Josh.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Yeah, I'd probably say I was okay, you know, I
started on the wing I had, you know, I didn't well, yeah,
a good set of wheels on myself and yeah, and
then just slowly made my way in played Censors for
a long time. Yeah, obviously won all the backyard games
(01:54):
against my cousins and brothers, and yeah, obviously just love
love playing footy and I found myself in Canberra.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Okay, you're a one club man, So tell us a
little bit more about the moment. What do you remember
of the canber Raiders coming. Were they the first club?
Were they the only club to talk to you at
that time?
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Yeah, there was, there was a few other clubs, but
my my dad insisted me in taking the canber Raiders contract.
He wanted me to stay out of Sydney, and obviously
I didn't want me to stay in Brisbane as well.
He thought the best move for myself was to travel
(02:35):
to Canberra, you know, and I trusted in that decision
many years ago. And you know, I'm so thankful that
the canber Raiders came chasing, you know, and I signed
with Canberra back in No.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Eight.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
And yeah, like I said before, it's a decision I'm
I'll cherish for a long time.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Does that mean we should be getting a campaign started
to get a statue built of your old man because
it's his.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
But he probably wouldn't even know have a spouse that
you made look at it. Yeah, like I said before,
the decision that I think molded me as a as
a man and as a player.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Do you want to tell us what other clubs were
sniffing around you as as a as a teenager?
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (03:18):
I looked at you know, obviously just the the clubs
that were coming out to do their scouting jobs. I
think the Dogs and Roosters were were I think the
other major clubs. But look they've obviously recruited well, you know,
Rest in peace, skull Pete mchullan, who was the selector
(03:41):
for Bulldogs back in the day, actually told me the
story of it was out of me and Josh Jackson,
you know, many years ago, and they they went with
Josh Jackson and I made the move to Canberra. So
you know, there's Bulldogs obviously didn't lose out there and
I didn't lose out here.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
On the way since then, three hundred and eighteen games
playing for Canberra, well documented that. What was that twelve
years ago? Now you signed with paramatter and you did
the backflip that judges to this day are still giving
nine point seven and nine point eight two.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Yeah, it's Look, it's probably another decision in my life.
You know, I'm grateful to to pass on. You know,
I did sign the contract with Power. I did want
to go play for Ricky Stewart when he was the
Paramattic coach.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Because that's the thing, that's the timing, that's the sliding
doors moment there is that Ricky was the coach, you
signed with Paramata, you backflip, and then Ricky's not the coach,
and then Ricky's the coach here.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Yeah, I think, yeah, a lot of people sort of
just look at it one way, you know, I obviously
wanted to play for Ricky Stewart. I knew who he
was as a player. Camber edits player, but I wanted
to experience the coaching side of Ricky Stewart. And you know,
just listening to the stories, you know at the World Cup,
(05:02):
you know, before the other legends that that we're there,
they said Ricky shuw was a straight shooter, and I
love that, you know. I love a coach who who
loves you for the person you are, and I just
wanted to go play under him. And yeah, like I
said before, thankful backflip. You know, I chose to stay
and a few weeks later Ricky Stewart left. Parron made
(05:25):
his way to camera as well.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
You're gonna jump around a little bit at this point
because you raised Ricky being a straight shooter. Has that
always sat well with you? I'm thinking back a couple
of years, it was pretty well publicized that you weren't
entirely happy You've got a week or two off.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Yeah, look, I I've always said it.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
I'm happy of the coach I played for.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
You know, Ricky Stewart is a straight shooter, which is
something I love in a coach. And yeah, obviously fust
at the time, you know, getting dropped. I felt like
at the time I wasn't playing the worst, but obviously
he wasn't playing the best either, So you know, Ricky
always makes the best move for the club, and uh,
(06:13):
that was the best move for for the team at
the time, and you know I paid the price. I
went and played New Cell Worlds Cup. I went and
played a Q Cup for a few weeks, and yeah,
obviously made my way back in the team. And you know,
looking back on it, Ricky Stewarts always had what would
I say, there's the best interest for for the player.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
So thankful.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
The kickup, you bum you needd, you reckon.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
I think it was.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Yeah, I think I was just very comfortable, you know obviously,
you know, like like the World Cup.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
I went to World Cup.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
You know, I got massive, uh you know, drank too
much pisson ate, too much food, and I came back
in the state where he wasn't happy.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
So it is what it is.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Let's do a couple of queens and then come back
across three hundred plus games with the Camber Raiders. Who's
been your most fun teammate all of you, Like, who's
been the biggest pain in the ass. I'm happy to
go either way there.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
Look, I probably can't go past. Stalo is probably the
funniest man I've ever met. You know, he just makes
me laugh, probably the size, you know, how funny is
he does carry on the on the piss and then
obviously just when he's sober. He's just just a funny man.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
What about a player you wish you'd played for, played with?
Out of all the opponents, and there's hundreds of them,
who's the player you wish you'd had a chance to play.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
With play with? Probably Sammy Burgess. I think just how
tough he is, just what he stood for. I just
loved how he just went about his business. So yeah,
Sammy Burgess. There's a whisper he's going to involved in
Perth with melman Inger over there. It's only a couple
(08:05):
of years away. Are you young enough? Definitely not young enough.
But if they're looking for old head, I'll pull my
hand up, all right.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
What about your toughest opponent anyone you've come up against
and you thought, I just don't really like going up
against this guy.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Oh, probably Sammy Burgess.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Okayama, Yeah, just just tough as nails. Yeah, let's get
back to the to the story signing with Paramatter and
then doing the bat. That's not the only time reportedly
you've come close to leaving the club. It's not been
as well documented, but there are a lot of people
(08:43):
who say you were this close to going too South Sydney.
Was it that close?
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Probably not as close as people say, but yeah, there
was definitely an opportunity there.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
This one hasn't been told a lot so and I
don't know if you've ever had the chance to tell
it in your own words, the flaws yours.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
Yeah, so I obviously got a hefty deal from from self.
They were gonna fly me down and obviously meet Russell Crowe,
you know, who's one of my favorite actors. And yeah,
they obviously sent a massive contract to come and play
back round for them. At the time, the game was
a bit a bit slower, so you know, my power
(09:24):
game in the background would have suited their team at
the time. And yeah, I chose to stay for a
lot more a lot less money, and we did something
special here and I think looking back now, you know
I don't regret that decision neither.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Let's talk origin footy. How special Is that for you
on top of your Raiders' career.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Yeah, it's obviously.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Yeah, it's something I'm proud of because you got interest
at the tail end of that eight in a row.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Yeah, I caught the Yeah, the aid in the road.
In twenty thirteen, I played Game two. In Game three,
New so Well was won the first game and yeah,
obviously just playing playing for the Morons, putting that jersey
on something I grew up watching and you know, dream
dreamt of that, that moment of representing you know, the
(10:22):
Morons and our people, you know, in the state, and
to do that in twenty thirteen was Yeah, definitely a
dream come true.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
There are people saying, and I've seen it in the
papers in the since the first game this year, can
we get him back? I think I think that response.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Look, I you know, I love my state, I love Queensland,
and look I'm two years post retired from Origin footy.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
But look, if if you ever get the.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
Core from I guess Billy Slater or the Queens and Maroons,
you know you would never say no, even even if
you are retired.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Or Alma Langer came back from England.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
You know, I'm always yeah, keeping that door open, but
at the same at the same time, I don't want
to disrespect the people that's in there at the moment.
You know, I feel like Queensland have picked the best
team to win the series and so I think Rick,
I think Billy will pick and stick and they can
(11:32):
do the job.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Let's talk about the other reporter. You've played. You've played
for Australia, you've played for somehow obviously both special. What's
different between playing for Australia and playing for some are.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
Oh, look, I think it would be the cultural difference.
You know, I'm yes, I'm born in New Zealand, but
I consider myself Ozzie. I grew up in the Logan
and you know, the Australian way. And but at the
end of the day, the difference is culture. You know,
when when you look at my identity, who I am
(12:07):
as a person, who my parents are as people, you know,
there's some more. So I would say that's the difference.
And you know, I played for Australia, played for some more.
You know, happy to do both. But you know, when
when you play for Australian win a World Cup, it's
probably just as special. If you were to win a
world couple some war as well. So yeah, I think
(12:32):
the difference is Australia's probably got millions.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
More people, but it doesn't feel different when you're wearing
the blue jersey as opposed to the grain and gold.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Yeah, I think so.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
You know, like I touched on before, the identity of
who you are as a person, you know, who my
kids are.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
Yeah, I think it is.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
You know, when I put that blue jersey on, you know,
you just represent more than you know, that team, that nation.
You represent the motherland or some more the kids that are,
you know, struggling back at home. And you know, I'm
not saying that you don't do that when you play
for the Aussie team, but you know, Australia just have
the resources that some more don't. So if you look
(13:16):
at it as as a fair game, well it's never
fair because Australia is bigger and got more people, but
you know it does mean more in one sense.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Let's go on to some other special moments. What do
you remember of Game one off the bench against Melbourne
in twenty eleven.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Yeah, so I spoke about this the other day.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
I don't remember much, but what I do remember is
my first carry, you know, I got stepped halfway through
my little stint.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
Billy Slater got me.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
And then obviously just seeing Cameron Smith, you know after
many years, you know, I played with his younger brother Smith.
His dad was my coach who was Wayne Smith and
then rest in Peace as well his mum who was
my manager for a long time. And yeah, I just
(14:11):
remember seeing Camera Smith again and I was like, this
kid's a Logan boy as well. So that's all I
remember from my debut.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
What else from the early days from that first season,
because you remember you first try.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Yeah, first try was against the Broncos. I remember that
because debut game. Family couldn't make it and it was
sort of last minute debut and so they couldn't make Melbourne.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
But a few weeks.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
Later I played the Broncos up in sun Corp and yeah,
my family turned up in numbers, probably half of Logan
turned up to sun Corp. And I actually scored a
double that day and my first try and my second
one was right in front of the family. So that
was a special moment for myself.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
We won't talk about the result, no, no, just move on.
It was a magic game of football. Actually, what's a
good game. Other magic moments what I've got a couple
here from spectator or commentator point of view, But what
are your magic moments? From going right back? You got
fifteen years to choose from.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Yeah, well you can't go past the debut. That's always
going to be a magic moment for myself, especially you
know this week coming up, you know, and sort of
you know, rewriting the history books, and you always think
about the first game, not the three hundred and nineteenth,
So that's always going to be a magic moment. You know,
(15:38):
our team in twenty twelve, we had such a good
run and then obviously got beat by South Sydney, and
then you talk about twenty sixteen and in twenty nineteen.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
But I'd say my.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Favorite moment in the Cambridge Jersey would have to be
the prelim in twenty nineteen.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
A really special game.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
Yeah, just can't take.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
That feeling away from you know, the camera people turning
up in numbers, you know, setting a new crowd record,
and then just how the game was at the time
as well. It was such a tough game back and forth,
and you know that that moment we are scored the try.
I just a lot of emotion, you know, looking at uh,
(16:25):
you know guys that I played with my whole career,
Jack Wyden, you know Jared Coker, you know ce Hodgo,
you know Joe Tapaney.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
These are these are the kids that we.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
Grew up trying to build something special and you know
that movement defined it for sure.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
That was a real purple patch for you that week
and the week before against Melbourne. I'm not sure if
you're aware the Raiders the only side that have got
a winning record in Melbourne outside of Melbourne. I'm not
sure if you're aware of that. Oh, we're definitely aware.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
You know.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Obviously we know Sticky's real good meats with bally X.
You know, there's always extra video sessions and extra tackling sessions.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
So how good was it at lang Park this year
to get him on their second home base.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
Yeah, look at I think we're just playing a nice
brand or at the moment.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
We'll get to that, we'll get to this year.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
So yeah, No, I think every time we play Melbourne
we know it's going to be tough and gritty. So yeah,
I think we just have the formula at the moment
to play Melbourne.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
But but yeah, those those two weeks in twenty nineteen.
Does it get any better than that? Well, I guess
it can.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
Yeah, obviously, yeah it can.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
By winning the comp and saying that, you know, they're
the moments that you sort of trained for. Was yeah,
pretty special.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
There's a video and I know that your son Noah
plays it to you, and I know that Jamma hates
you looking at it. But the time you ran him
down Jamal Foger when he was playing for the Gold Coast. Now,
of course he's a teammate. Talk to me about that.
You know, that's just one of those out of the blue.
Did I just see that?
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (18:06):
I did, but my brain's still not accepting that. I've
just seen it for you living that, you know, because
he's not slow. I'm not saying you're not quick, but
he's not slow.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
Yeah. I think it was just a good timing thing,
you know. I was.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
I sort of if you actually look back on context
of the proper game, I didn't keep chase, so I
didn't fully go up. I was like, oh, that kicks
too long, so I'll just wait back here. And then
I saw Jamal start running and I thought, well, he's
going in between da damas Lewis and tom Starling and
they sort of missed the ankle a tack not long before,
(18:43):
so I was like, you know, I've better put my
foot down, and yeah, Jamal could have made me look
silly if he actually just spent for the corner, but
he's sort of tried to come back around under the
post and I had one chance in one moment, and
I took it. And yeah, now, buddy smugglers, these nice
budgies and they've captured that moment.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
And I hope you get royalties for those.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
I'll tell you, Oh, I get enough budgies for sure,
So thank you Budgies smugglers.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
But what I do love is there's that there's a
saying about you know people who walk walk around they
walking on the shoulders of giants. Right, You've just a
bit of there that for that ankle tap, you're walking
around on the shoulders of Tommy Starling and you know
he's a long as long from Vagina as you can get.
Let's get outside of footy for a couplements and then
and then circle back outside of footy. Family life is
(19:33):
obviously really good for you. Here in Canberra, there have
been some bumps on the road here in the nation's capital.
Let's not gloss over that. I don't know how much
you want to talk about, but there have been some bumps.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
Yeah, there's there's been some hurdles, you know, things I'm
I'm not proud of as a person and as a
as a player as well. You know, I think when
I'm going through those hurdles and those tough times, I've
forgotten my identity. I've forgotten who I represent in Canberra
as well. And you know, I look back on my
(20:09):
decisions that I've made in the past and you know,
being real selfish with the decisions I've made, so you know,
I've if I could take the time, do you apologize
to anyone that I've hurt in the past as well too?
You know, I know my actions haven't been the best.
(20:29):
You know I've laid and so as my my families.
You know, I think it's it can be an ugly look,
especially for myself being uh, you know, the most cap raidar,
you know, being here the longest, and that's just not
the picture or the identity you want to pass over
to young kids growing up wanting to be the next
(20:51):
canber Raider. Wanting to be you know, a normal you
know father out there as well, because I'm also a husband,
a far I'm also a son to you know, my
parents as well. And you know, when I look back
on on that, I want to be the best I
can be, not only for myself, for my family as well.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
So do you talk to the young kids, And I'm
not talking here about so that the Jamals and the Ethans.
We've got multiple young Ethans. I'll talk about the kids
who come in for the ball and the flag and
they'd see you and it'd be, oh my god, that's
Josh Papa. You know. Do you talk to them about
stuff like that, about the stuff that can happen away
(21:34):
from the footy field and it just happens like that,
It doesn't happen, It doesn't have to build up. It
can happen real quick.
Speaker 3 (21:40):
Yeah, I do.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
You know, I'm if you know me at the Camberretras
that they now, I'm an open book, and Ricky Stewart
knows that if if one of the young boys needed
talking to, I'm always willing to put my hand up
to you know, share experience I can.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
You know.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
The good thing about me is I've done you know,
things I'm proud of on the field, but then I've
got the other life as well. So you know, I've
done bad good off field as well, So I've I've
experienced them both, and you know, obviously you know some
I'm not proud of. But you know, if if young
(22:18):
boys need to learn off someone, you know, just have
a look at my career.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Fair enough, we'll move. Actually, no, there's one other thing.
Is it true you wanted to be a priest.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
Yeah, what kind of a priest would this? This is?
Speaker 2 (22:31):
This is the good stuff?
Speaker 1 (22:32):
Now yeah, not not not a you know, a priest,
but you know, a youth Back in the day, it
was like a youth care youth pastor. You know, I
was going church at the time. I'm still going church now.
We watch online with Life. You see Canberra out at
Charnwood with Pastor Sean and Pastor Linda as well. They
(22:54):
do obviously a great job with a lot of the
young canber Raiders as well and young Brumby players. But yeah,
I did want to be, you know, in that youth
sort of ministry, you know, just helping the young young
kids coming through.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
And I mean I went to Catholic school and I've
still got scars on the knuckles from the nuns. That's
a bit before your time. But you know you wouldn't
have been one of.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Those nah nah, But I should have. I should have
been in that little bad room you and but yeah, yeah,
I would have loved to be still still desired to
be one in the near future, so hopefully I can.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
Have a chance to become.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
I've got one more off yourd question, then we'll start
talking about for you again. Sammy Rose from The Raiders
on Mixed Team. She loves your hair, she has said specifically,
can I ask what's your hair care routine?
Speaker 3 (23:47):
So?
Speaker 2 (23:48):
Is there anything special about about what you do with
your hair or is that just the natural just probaly,
I'm gonna let it grow.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
Yeah, no, no, So I I coppy a lot of
crap from all the boys because I'm I'm going thin
on top. So I obviously washed my hair conditioner shampoo.
But what I do after is, you know, the hair moisturizers.
I give it a brush every day, you know, I
(24:14):
do put my hair up and try it like you know,
like I'm a chick. So and the boys always taking
photos of me and the sheds and but yeah, I
take good.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
Care of my hair.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
I never thought i'd be asking you that, but yeah,
I put I put the question out to the Raiders
on Mixed team. I said, have you got hair wash?
And that that came in so hair moisturizer.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
That's yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
If you've seen me, how old are you been? Nineteen
ninety five ninety six, you would have been what three
four years old? Yeah? Yeah, when you were three or four
years old, I had a glorious mullet. It every bit
as good as yours. Now it's the number one on
the side, number three on the top. Too much mucking
around to take care of it. All right, Let's let's
talk about footy again. How proud are you of the
(24:58):
multiple melmann Inger Metal?
Speaker 1 (25:01):
Obviously very proud. It's a it's such a massive honor
to receive a medallion that your peers are voted for.
It's a it's an award that's awarded to, you know, the
best inferiest of the team. And I just always look
at it as as an award that could have went
(25:23):
to any anyone in the squad, and it went to
one person.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
But yeah, always proud.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
I think when I look at a certain medal, for
a certain year. It has a lot of not scars,
but a lot of sacrifice into those certain years.
Speaker 3 (25:43):
You know.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
I remember sixteen was off the back of you know,
me being dropped and you know, early in my career,
and then you know, eighteen, I've been dropped again, and
then you know, being picked from origin from newsa Wells Cup.
That was tough, but yeah, needed to be done. It
(26:06):
was the kick up the bum that I needed. And
then nineteen was you know, it was all on deck
and I had such a special year.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
Nineteen.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
I felt happy off field, I was happy on field,
and I was just performing.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
And then twenty twenty to share it.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
With one of my closest mates, Jack whiteon you know,
he had a massive season as well, and you had
to share the medal where Jack was something special as well.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
This Sunday, two o'clock in the afternoon, you run out
at Goo Stadium by one of those wonderful quirks of scheduling.
I don't know if the NROL planned it, but it's
Raiders for South Jack White and I'll be lining up
there for the opposition. What does that feel like? What
is that going to feel like? Do you have any
idea knowing that one of your best mates is there
(26:56):
on the other side.
Speaker 1 (26:57):
Yeah, I think it's well, he's been our salves for
few years now, so you know that that playing against
your your best mates have gone a bit easier. And
I know Jack as a person, he you know, he's
a very loyal and passionate person as well, so he
would want to be doing the best for his jersey
and himself as well. So yeah, no mixed emotions, just
(27:20):
you know, it's a job we have to do. Canberra
have to win a game, self have to win a game.
So you know, obviously all that personal stuff pushed to
a side and we're just playing footy.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
Game three eighteen done, game three nineteen coming. Obviously you're
closer to the end than than the beginning. How much
further is there for Josh Papoley in a green jersey?
It's your last year of your contract. Everyone knows that. Yeah,
is this it is this the Swan song? Are you
hoping you can get another year out of it?
Speaker 3 (27:52):
What? What?
Speaker 2 (27:52):
What are you feeling at the moment?
Speaker 3 (27:54):
Yeah, I'm feeling good. It's probably the best my body
has felt.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
Your role has changed. I should say that you really
become now that impact player off the bench, much more
than the starting battering ram.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Yeah, and I feel like I'm enjoying that role. I
feel like me and the benches are doing a really
good job on coming in, you know, assisting the starters.
You know, Big Red, Joe, Taps and Morgan, they're doing
a really good job. And me Utter and you know, Owen,
We're on the bench and we're playing less minutes, but
(28:26):
we're we're just doing as much damage as the starters.
So you know, I'm really enjoying my role at the
moment as a as a bench player. I feel like
I'm obviously a bit more experienced than the younger boys,
but yeah, just going on and enjoying my time. My
body's feeling good, my mind's fresh. But yeah, look, I
(28:48):
think when it comes to the end of twenty twenty five,
it would be the last time people see myself in
a green jersey. And that's just where the club's are
at the moment and where I'm at the moment. Obviously,
I would love to keep playing on, but it just
won't be in camera.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
Are you comfortable with that? Is there a lingering disappointment
that it comes to an end?
Speaker 3 (29:09):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (29:09):
Look, that I'd be lying if I'd say there wasn't
because I love camera and you're not going to find
too many, too many players that's going to bleed you know,
green more than I do, you know, especially when you
know I play this weekend, you know, and obviously I
rewrite the history books, you know, I can. I can
(29:30):
honestly say that no one bleeds green more than me.
So yeah, look, I love this club, I love the community,
I love camera, and look, I'll be back in the
near future. But yeah, playing wives, Yeah, I really hope
myself and the squad do something special this year for sure.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
Okay, I was very silly on the radio just before
the Round two game against the Broncos, and Chris Nan
and Nige have the tape of me saying the Raiders
are going to go all the way and win the
whole thing this year. Now, I may have said that
in multiple years going back, but she this year's side,
it's looking good. I mean, there is a lot of
(30:17):
the West Tigers two thousand and five. There is a
lot of in the back line. I don't know whether
you've looked at the tapes, but the ninety four back
line was exciting. Yeah, there were better known players there,
but the excitement now of players like Xavier Savage, Maddie
Timmoco said, Chris Ethan in the halves and I'm leaving
(30:37):
guys out there, but you know there's some excitement there.
I won't ask you, are the Raiders going to win
the whole thing? That's a silly question to ask a player.
But how confident should Raiders fans be? Should they be
really starting to think that this is a big possibility.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
I think the feeling within the community tells you. The
story tells you the answer on how the Camber readers
have got you know, the camera fans just they don't
turn out in numbers for no reason. And when I'm
a fan in the near future, I'll be turning up
because I know that feeling. I know the camera team
(31:13):
will do well. And you know, I won't say we're
going to win the competition, because that's always the plan,
that's always the that's the final destination. But I feel
like we are going to do something special at the
end of twenty twenty five. I feel like we will
be there thereabouts, and we just need to keep our
(31:36):
head down, keep working hard, and the results will look
after itself.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
We've been talking for about half an hour and now
I've probably got a million other things I could ask you,
but I want to leave the last bit to you,
Josh Papali As you're coming up on setting the Cambra
Raiders all time caps record. It's a record that's going
to stand for quite some time. I think. Obviously there
(32:03):
are people who have helped you out on the way
that you're going to want to say thank you to.
There is maybe some shout outs you want to give,
the flaws yours. Is there anything anything you want to
say anyone you want to think it's all yours.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
Ah, that's obviously might take a while, but yeah, obviously
thank my parents, my wife, my kids, you know, my
coaches in the past, you know, my teachers that have
had to put up with, you know, the silly me,
the me turning up to school and only focusing on footy.
(32:44):
You know my cousins, my uncles and aunties that help
my parents. I guess raise a kid from New Zealand
and logan to chase this dream. And I think without
my inner circle, uh, this this record ain't ain't possible
without the people that you know, put trust and sacrifice
(33:08):
into myself, so they obviously get the big thanks, but
you know, a massive thank you would have to go
to the Canberraiders, you know, just taking their time and
sacrifice into a kid from Logan who they didn't know
much about, and they put in time and a lot
(33:29):
of time into my craft. And look, I can honestly
say I haven't had the cleanest path, but Camber is
always stuck by me. And you know I've always stuck
by the Camber Raiders and that's a relationship that that
is unbreakable.
Speaker 3 (33:46):
You know. I'm always here for the club and the
club knows that.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
And I would just like to obviously thank you, uh,
you know, thank everyone involved in the Camber Raiders. And
but if I could just mention a special thank you
to obviously Ricky Stewart. You know, he's not only my coach,
but he's he's a close maid of mine. You know,
what he's done for me off field has obviously made
(34:15):
our relationship a lot closer than what it is, you know,
with the assistance of myself as a player as a person,
helping my my family off field issues and just loving
my kids like it's his own, and assisting my child
with autism like it's his own and that love he
(34:38):
has for my kids, that yeah, it's unheard of. And
you know the past players I played with, you know
the players that I play with now, you know, I
can't thank them enough. And the players that have gone by,
and you know before us who have dorn the mighty agreement.
Speaker 3 (34:57):
Green Machine Jersey. You know, I can't think there's guys enough.
Speaker 1 (35:01):
So yeah, if I've missed anyone else, thank you as well,
love you or.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
Josh Tuffay, this has been just an awesome experience. Just
actually sit and have a chat. You know, the people
who said to me, O, Josh is a much of
a talker, You're not going to get much out of it.
We could go for another hour, I reckon, it wouldn't
be a problem. I'm not going to do that. You've
got a whole week to prepare for a very important
game for the club. Let's not forget that the Raiders
are in the midst of a very very strong campaign.
(35:30):
You're up against South's coached by the Genius, so you know,
there's a lot to prepare for. All the best this weekend.
I hope that somewhere in amongst everything you get a
minute to enjoy it and soak it in. And I
hope that we are talking in October and you've got
a very nice shiny championship ring on your finger.
Speaker 3 (35:50):
No, that would be nice.
Speaker 1 (35:52):
Yeah, obviously, thank you for taking your time to you know,
interview old Blokelock myself. And and like I, like I
said before, obviously see you in October with a nice
little shiny ring.
Speaker 3 (36:06):
That would be nice.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
It sounds like a good player. I'll hold you to it.
Speaker 4 (36:09):
Thank you mate, Amplify cbr H
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