Rugby league legend Gorden Tallis has called for Maroons coach Billy Slater to send a middle forward SOS to a rampaging Raiders enforcer following his Origin retirement.
Josh Papalii shocked the rugby league world when he announced he’d be pulling himself out of contention to represent his state, making the decision in May 2023.
The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio claimed that Queensland were bullied by the Blues in Game II, with Michael Maguire’s side running out 38-18.
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“Gordie, you’re down an enforcer and you know it. There’s no menace or bully in that pack,” Riccio said.
“No (Tom) Flegler. He would have been the man. Who’s going to stand up this time?”
For Tallis, Papalii could be the man to hit back at NSW in a heavily anticipated series decider at Suncorp Stadium.
“We got beaten up in the forwards. (We need) Josh Papalii,” Tallis said on NRL360 on Wednesday night.
“I’ve said before and I’ll say it again, there’s a phone call that needs to be made down to Canberra to say ‘can you have 20 minutes for us’.
“I’ve never seen (Papalii) get bullied and I don’t think he’s ever let Queensland down, he’s sitting there, we’re light on in the forwards.
“I would ring him and say ‘can you play 20 minutes for our state’.
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“There was one phone call to a bloke aged 35 (Allan Langer in 2001) in England and he said what took you so long, so he (Papalii) will answer it.”
Tallis also suggested David Fifita should earn an Origin recall due to his “outstanding” form for the Titans.
Papalii has played 23 games for the Maroons between 2012 and 2022, and The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis was of the belief Papalii made his decision for a reason.
“I’ve always thought Papalii was a pseudo retirement where he was told ‘you’re not going to be picked so put your hand up for retirement’,” he said.
“There’s no doubt they were bullied (in Game II) and they miss Papalii and when Felise Kaufusi was at his best, those sort of enforcers.
“They just don’t have that at the moment Queensland.”