Hudson Young has welcomed the chance to play against Raiders team-mate Josh Papalii for the first time as Westpac NSW Blues players brace for the Queensland veteran’s “last ride”.
Papalii will play his first Origin since 2022 – and almost certainly his last – after coming out of representative retirement for Wednesday’s series decider and Young is among the Blues players who know the impact he can have on team-mates.
“I have looked up to Josh for a long time now and played with him for many years so to get a game against him is going to be pretty cool,” Young said.
“Being able to run out next to big Papa each week fills me with confidence, so he is obviously going to be a good asset to their team.”
Brian To’o, Jarome Luai, Stephen Crichton and Spencer Leniu all played alongside Papalii in the Toa Samoa team that created history by becoming the first Pacific nation to qualify for a World Cup final in 2022.
While he doesn’t get the same accolades as Jason Taumalolo for his decision to play for Tonga, Papalii inspired the likes of To’o to play for Samoa at international level.
“He is a very big inspiration for us Samoan boys,” To’o said. “He has been a beacon for us to achieve great things.
“His leadership is pretty much showcased by the way he goes about his business, and it inspires us just to be great as well.
“Papa has that effect on people. He has obviously been that mentor to all of us Samoan boys and I am glad he us back in the team.
“I know he is going to definitely add value to their team, and I am looking forward to the challenge.”
Papalii’s resurgence of form this season has coincided with Canberra being on track for their first minor premiership since 1990 and Luai said the Blues were wary of him having the same influence on the Maroons.
“Papa is playing some good football, the Raiders are at the top of the ladder and [Queensland coach] Billy Slater would know what he can get out of Josh,” Luai said.
“With Samoa, we were a young side and it is probably a bit like some of these Maroons guys now, with the new blood coming in.
“To have an experienced guy like him, who has done it all in the game and who has played at high level for so long, he can just speak of his experiences.
“I probably shouldn’t say this, but I am happy for him. He is a pretty close mate of mine.
“I am not going to wish him good luck, but this is a bit of a last ride for him so I’m sure he’ll get up for it, the boys will get up for it for him and we have got a big job to do.”
The Raiders record holder for the most premiership games with the club will depart Canberra at the end of the season and has been heavily linked with a move to Super League.
Young said he was surprised to get the chance to play against Papalii for the first and only time, particularly after the birth of his fourth child, Jeremiah, on the day that the Origin teams were selected.
“He has obviously deserved this opportunity, and I think they have been into him for a couple of years now to come back, so he obviously sees something within their team so good on him.
“I didn’t think that he would do it with him having a new-born baby, but it shows how committed he is to his footy – and he shows that with the Raiders.
“If you ask me, I think he is in nearly career best form, so I am surprised that he is going to go to over there [to Super League], but I’m not surprised in a certain way.
“I think he doesn’t ever want to play against the Raiders, that is the mentality that Josh has. He is a Raider and that is why we all love him down there.”
Source: NRL.com
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