All a storm in a tea cup IMO.I find it hard to believe that Sticky would drop him for loss of form.....something else must be the issue
Not the first time either that Papalii has been relegated to the bench. Stuart knows how to get the best out of him, he's making a point that the Raiders have plenty of good forwards and no-one gets a walk up start.All a storm in a tea cup IMO.
Whilst Sticky is not my favourite coach he is certainly not a dummy and he is preparing for the next 4 games which will all be very tough.
He gets an opportunity to freshen up big Josh by starting him from the bench and at the same time gets the chance to put some much needed miles into the legs of James and Harawira-Naera & Horsburgh who are yet to play a game this year and are very important for the Raiders campaign.
Sticky is making sure he has lots to choose from as niggling injuries start to impact on teams.
Most likely against the Red VNot the first time either that Papalii has been relegated to the bench. Stuart knows how to get the best out of him, he's making a point that the Raiders have plenty of good forwards and no-one gets a walk up start.
Won't be long before Papa's running over opposition forwards again and it won't be in the Red V.
Classic Possm.
- Propose recruiting a player who has never expressed interest in leaving their current club
- Suggest a completely unrealistic plan to recruit said player based on salary cap numbers that don't add up.
- Attack recruitment when they don't get it done, when it was never a possibility in the first place.
Papalii is under contract with Canberra until the end of 2024. End thread.
Nice rumour Possm. Even if there was something to it it’s a no thanks from me. The Moose signing along with Merrin’s retirement has completely changed our pack. We look a lot tougher now in the middle.Canberra's Josh Papalii, dorpped for the game against Canberra seems to be out of sorts at the Raiders. Maybe it is a good time to approach is manager and get a handle on his future plans.
I'd say he is just the type of big forward we are looking for.
No. Too expensive. We won’t get him anyway he will stay at the RaidersCanberra's Josh Papalii, dorpped for the game against Canberra seems to be out of sorts at the Raiders. Maybe it is a good time to approach is manager and get a handle on his future plans.
I'd say he is just the type of big forward we are looking for.
QLD.. Close enoughDid he ever play for the Broncos ?
You're right It's not the first time he's benched a forward. I think it's a plan by Stuart in managing his forwards. A lot depends on the opposition at the time.The Canberra pack have been rotating starters for several years. And Josh is the leader of that pack. This isn’t the first time he has started off the bench, it’s happened even when he was in career best form.
Could be something to it, but I wouldn’t read much into it. Certainly wouldn’t be jumping to conclusions that this might make him available to be headhunted.
I can’t remember when I watched it, or the show. But a couple of years ago they were talking about the Canberra pack, and how they considered themselves a unit with Josh as their leader. Different forwards would put their hand up to start to challenge themselves, and Josh would take a step back to shore up the side coming in off the bench. Just a differentiation from looking at themselves as starters or bench players. They acknowledged that the pack had a role throughout the game.You're right It's not the first time he's benched a forward. I think it's a plan by Stuart in managing his forwards. A lot depends on the opposition at the time.