. The story behind Josh Papalii's decision to turn down Parramatta Eels and stay with Canberra Raiders
by: Andrew Webster From: The Daily Telegraph March 13, 2013 11:30PM
Josh Papalii is staying with the Raiders. Picture: Kym Smith Source: The Daily Telegraph
"I WANT to play under Ricky Stuart."
Those words didn't come from the mouths of any Parramatta players right now, although the way Jarryd Hayne looks and feels you would certainly understand if they came from him.
They came from Josh Papalii. So why won't he be playing for the Eels next season?
Parramatta meet the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium tonight in one of rugby league's truly storied rivalries, but let's just mop up the minor matter of Papalii's extraordinary decision to (legally) renege on his $1 million, three-year deal to join the Eels next season.
The Daily Telegraph has learnt of the timeline of negotiations between the boom Canberra forward and the Eels - and the pressure placed on the 20-year-old to stay at the Raiders.
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First, it's important to know that Papalii's manager Col Davis approached the Eels, the club did not approach him or the player.
That was early January, when the Queensland-based manager phoned Eels recruitment man Peter Nolan and told him Papalii was a free agent.
Parramatta weren't looking for an edge forward. They wanted big aggressive props for hire in the middle, which explains their heated interest in Cowboys Matt Scott and James Tamou.
Later that month, Davis passed on the message to the Eels: "Josh wants to play under Ricky Stuart."
Despite his explosive performance last season, the Raiders had not offered Papalii a contract extension.
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While the kid wanted to sign with the Eels, Stuart insisted he should at least speak to Canberra - the club where Stuart collected premierships as a player - out of respect.
Despite this, on February 4, with his mother standing next to him and with Nolan present, Papalii signed his three-year deal.
On February 19, Davis phoned Parramatta to tell them Canberra had counter-offered, and that the Raiders - having not re-signed Papalii despite the opportunity to do so for months - had given him 24 hours to accept.Days later, Davis gave the Eels another firm indication his client was still coming in 2014.
Around the same time, as Raiders boss Don Furner was playing in Stuart's charity golf day in Canberra, Nolan met with Papalii, who again reaffirmed he was coming.
That's a signature and two verbal confirmations that everything was sweet, despite public comments from Raiders coach David Furner that "the kid wants to stay".
Then, suddenly, the line between Davis and Nolan went cold. Calls and texts weren't answered.
There is a belief at Parramatta that this is when the Raiders started pressuring Papalii to about-face, which is possible under the NRL's edict allowing the incumbent club's cooling off period before round 13.
There are suggestions Papalii was asked about why he would leave, on the team bus, in front of his teammates. Club representatives lobbied his parents.
Queensland coach Mal Meninga, a senior adviser to his former team, was rolled in. With Papalii knocking on the door of Maroons selection, it was the best card Canberra could play.
At 5.31pm last Friday, with the Sharks drugs crisis running wild, the Raiders released a statement declaring that Papalii would be staying.
It ended weeks of speculation about his future, but questions remain about the manner and circumstances around the sudden change of heart.
No party, from Parramatta to the Raiders to Davis, believe they have done anything wrong.
As for Papalii, he is yet to phone or text Stuart and explain why he wanted desperately to play for him one month, and then not at all the next.
