Raiders veteran Josh Papali’i is having second thoughts about a move to the Super League, and instead is “open to offers” from rival NRL clubs, it has been revealed.
Papali’i had been linked to a move to St Helens at the end of this season, when he comes off contract.
But now he is likely to remain in the NRL, and it’s a turn of events that has caught the Raiders off guard, according to The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis.
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“I think everyone just assumed Josh Papali’i was going to go to the Super League at the end of the season,” Carayannis said on NRL 360 on Wednesday night.
“He was linked to St Helens and I’m not sure if it’s because of his form, his Origin recall, whatever the case may be, but he’s made it clear to those close to him that he doesn’t really want to go to the Super League.
“He wants to remain in the NRL and that’s caused the Raiders, it’s caught them a little bit by surprise, because they hadn’t budgeted in their salary cap for him for next season.
“Look, obviously, they’ll move everything to try and fit him in next year, but at the moment Josh Papali’i’s on the market and I think he’s open to offers from rival clubs.”
When asked by host Braith Anasta if Papali’i would remain with the Raiders, Carayannis said there’s no certainty that would be the case.
“I’d say so, right, but it’s not a foregone conclusion,” Carayannis added.
“I think he’s open to listening (to offers from other clubs), definitely open to listening.
“The form that he’s in, the experience that he has, the real lack of middles in the competition, you could sit down and rattle off 10, 12 sides, which could do with a middle like Josh Papali’i.
“The only issue that I think people believe is that, well, he probably won’t leave.
“The more it drags on, the other clubs are definitely going to have an enquiry around what his future may look like.”
Carayannis said if Papali’i were to remain with the Raiders, another player would need to exit the club, given the nature of their salary cap situation next season.
“So if he does play on, and stays in Canberra, someone will have to move on, that’s the reality of their situation at the moment,” Carayannis said.
Panellist James Hooper said he didn’t want to see Papali’i, who is the Raiders’ first grade games record holder, playing at another NRL club.
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“I think they need to find a little bit of bend here, given everything he has done for that club, and his form this year, I don’t want to see him in any other colours,” Hooper said.
According to Hooper, Papali’i is on around $700,000 this season.
Hooper indicated that if Papali’i wishes to stay with the Raiders, he would need to be “prepared to accept” a salary of about $350,000 in 2026.
“I would suspect that he’s probably got to be prepared to accept around half (his current salary) to get one more year out,” Hooper added.
