Josh Papalii is a New Zealand professional rugby league

Rugby league

Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...

 footballer for the Canberra Raiders

Canberra Raiders

The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...

 of the National Rugby League

National Rugby League

The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...

 (NRL) competition. A New Zealander by birth and Queenslander by residence, Papalii is a hard running second rower/lock who made his NRL debut for Canberra in 2011.

Biography

Born in New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

 but raised in Woodridge, Queensland

Woodridge, Queensland

Woodridge is a suburb of Logan City in the South East of Queensland, Australia, located within the Brisbane metropolitan area and had a population of 18,039 as of the 1996 census....

, Papalii played his junior footy in Queensland

Queensland

Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...

 for Logan Brothers. Papalii played 20+ games for Canberra's Toyota Cup

Toyota Cup

Toyota Cup may refer to:* Copa Toyota Libertadores was the name of Copa Libertadores from 1997-2007 for sponsorship reasons.* Intercontinental Cup , known as Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL....

 side before making his debut in the Raider's win against the Melbourne Storm

Melbourne Storm

The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....

 in round 10, 2011.

He had, perhaps, the best performance of his still young first grade career against the Brisbane Broncos

Brisbane Broncos

The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...

 in round 14 of the 2011 season. He scored two tries back to back to help lead a Raider's comeback, coming from 24-0 down to level the game 24-24, before losing in extra time.

In 2010, he represented the Queensland under 18 side and was selected in the Junior Kiwis

Junior Kiwis

The Junior Kiwis side represents New Zealand in the sport of rugby league. They are commonly known as the Junior Kiwis, after the native bird of that name. They are not necessarily an age grade side, but the second national team behind the New Zealand national rugby league team. They are...

' training squad, although he did not make the final side. He was selected for the Junior Kiwis in 2011.

External links

Josh Papalii Player Profile