CSB - Isaiah Papali'i - Kiwi's

Catching up with Kiwi's forward ahead of there clash with the Kangaroos this coming Sunday out of Christchurch. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
We're talking international a rugby league on the show this Morning,
where the Kiwis kickoff their Pacific Cup competition this Sunday
against the old foes, the Australian Kangaroos kickoff just after
six o'clock Sunday night out of christ Church. Joining us
on the show this morning. Kiwi's bekra Isaiah Papali Isaiah
morning and welcome home mate morning.

Speaker 2 (00:22):
Rayn.

Speaker 1 (00:23):
Do you get to come home much?

Speaker 2 (00:26):
Yeah? I find myself at home during the off season,
spending time with the family and that and probably the
only other time is usually the Chrissy Breek because.

Speaker 1 (00:36):
It's where it all began for you, isn't it Mount
Albert Grammar School where you played rugby and rugby league?

Speaker 2 (00:43):
Yeah? Yeah, I grew up out in west Auckland. He
had a two in a bit of Henderson and yeah
I did my high school and years Nanaba Grammar. Balancing
the two sports up was.

Speaker 1 (00:55):
I guess your mum would have been a big influence
because she actually represented New Zealand as a Kiwi fer
and Lorena didn't she.

Speaker 2 (01:02):
Yeah, she played in that side for a while and
I think the last time that O two jersey one
that we were in on the weekend. She has it
actually in the stored away in the garage and it's
pretty cool reminiscing on when she was in the jersey
and being able to kind of playing the same similar jersey.

(01:25):
I'm pretty excited to do that for Sunday.

Speaker 1 (01:28):
New Zealand's only mother and son combination to represent the
Kiwi Ferns and the Kiwis. That's that's quite something.

Speaker 2 (01:35):
Yeah. Yeah, she's a massive role model for me, and
she's an og a lot of the oldies, especially in
the Woman's Game. I remember remember her and how do
you remember her as a kid growing up?

Speaker 1 (01:54):
Right, Well, let's let's look at the Kangaroos. Last week
they had their first hit out in the Pacific Cup
eighteen will win over Tonga. From from watching that game,
what have you seen the Aussies do in that game
that they're doing, well, you'll have to watch out for.

Speaker 2 (02:09):
I think they tested the middle real well there all
obviously world class players. Then they just keep handing their metal,
jopping their edge back roles and the senner's under and
just I guess tiring up the Tommon team. And then
the points didn't come early, but they got them at

(02:31):
the back end and obviously got the results in the end.

Speaker 1 (02:35):
You'll probably be playing against a few old teammates in
the in the Aussie team, weren't you, h Yeah.

Speaker 2 (02:42):
I think Mitch Mitch Moses is one of them. Then,
I think he's the only old teamate that I haven't five.

Speaker 1 (02:49):
Actually, Well, the matches of sell out and christ Church
was I think is fantastic and it's a doubleheader with
the Kiwi Ferns playing there before, So how special is
it to play in front of a pack house back
in New Zealand.

Speaker 2 (03:03):
Yeah, that's yeah, that's pretty exciting for all of us
in camp obviously, been seeing that it's sold out and
we had a fand there yesterday and crushes that dis
the point. So I'm sure Sunday would just be just
as good or even better. So I'm looking forward to
it personally.

Speaker 1 (03:22):
What Stacy Jones being like, he's the new coach for
the Keywi's, what's he being like to work with?

Speaker 2 (03:28):
He's been good, He's hasn't changed. He's been in camp
as an assistant coach previously, so I think he's just
keeping a similar style and it was quite calm and positive.
I like that about him and he's got a good
group around them, so I think they've got a good
mix and the coaching stuff.

Speaker 1 (03:50):
Only a handful of international game scheduled this year for
the kiwis would you like to see more in.

Speaker 2 (03:56):
The future, Yeah, definitely. I think there's been a bit
of talk around the end of this coming back in
For me, I'll be pretty keen to to bring that
back and experience a game like that because I remember
being a kid watching those games. Yeah, it's pretty massive,
so if that could be a thing, I'll definitely be. Yeah,

(04:20):
back in there.

Speaker 1 (04:21):
You're probably one of the older heads on the team
now because you were eighteen years old when you got
the surprise call from Stephen Kearney to come into playing
international footy, weren't you.

Speaker 2 (04:32):
Yeah, I think it was my second year and I
think the coach was Michael Maguire and he was on there,
decided to put me in the wider team the England
tour and yeah, I was pretty spoked obvious here to
dream for me And I guess it's been what six
six years now and I'm still grateful to be in

(04:54):
this environment and I guess I'm just trying to help
the younger boys. I also make sure that I keep
learning as well and be a sponge around these world
class players that are in this camp.

Speaker 1 (05:07):
And for you for next season and then NRL. It's
a change up the Penrith Panthers. You'll be looking forward
to that.

Speaker 2 (05:14):
Yeah. I think I've got three weeks after this camp
to get myself right for preseason and then heavy getting
into that preseason training. Yeah, the Panthers, which I'm pretty
spoked and excited about.

Speaker 1 (05:30):
Absolutely. Well, Isaiah, thank you for joining us this morning.
Welcome home and go well on Sunday. Mate.

Speaker 2 (05:36):
Thank you, Brian. I appreciate the fin