NRL stalwart and former State of Origin star Josh Papali’i is now available for Super League clubs to sign.
The former Dally M Prop of the year is out of contract at the end of 2024 meaning he can enter discussions with any team about a potential move including Super League clubs.
The big and powerful prop is now 31 years old which is often the age NRL players make the switch to Super League, especially forwards like Papali’i.
In recent times he has struggled with injuries which could also be a factor in considering a move to Super League.
Papali’i has had tentative talks about a renewed contract with Canberra Raiders but reports suggest that this is a long way off from being finalised leaving open a big opportunity for other clubs to sign him especially Super League clubs.
“There’s discussions with my management team and the club at the moment,” Papali’i said last month.
“Discussions are happening while we’re training at the moment.
“I’m not certain on how it’s going to pan out, but hopefully we’ll see what happens in the next couple of weeks.”
The 31-year-old’s retirement from the Origin arena after 23 appearances for the Maroons, coupled with missing the end-of-year Pacific Championships due to surgery on a biceps injury, meant Papali’i played just 18 games last season, the fewest since his rookie year back in 2011.
“It’s something my body needed,” Papali’i told NRL.com, “Playing 10 years of Origin and then international games as well, that does take a toll. At the beginning of last year it felt like it all caught up to me, with my calf injury at the start and then the biceps injury at the end.
“The break was some time to invest back into myself and I am feeling pretty good… my mindset is clear, I am refreshed and just keen.
“When you’ve been playing at the top level for a while you tend to criticise your performance a lot harder than most people would.”
“There were a lot of stats that I did better in both 2021 and 2022; I just didn’t reach those numbers last season.”
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