Josh Papali’i Calls Time on NRL Career | Australia News

Veteran NRL legend Josh Papali’i is calling time on his stellar 14-year career with the Canberra Raiders, ending it at the close of this season after over 340 games — a record for the club. The emotional decision, made months ago and initially shared with his coach, was reignited by seeing a mural of his iconic 2019 preliminary final try that propelled them to the grand final. A brutal 2026 season took its toll, convincing him it was time to retire. Though overseas Super League offers were discussed, family came first — relocating his kids to England wasn’t an option. He even returned from retirement last year to help Queensland win State of Origin. Despite the Raiders’ current lack of contention, he’s proud of staying for another year after their 2025 minor premiership and is focused on their final home game. While not ruling out representing Samoa or the Cook Islands in the Rugby League World Cup, he’s mindful of his body’s limits and is playing one game at a time. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/d23022d205de30d2