Raiders face nervous wait over monstrous Josh Papalii hit

Sports Reporter

Fri, 27 Sept 2019, 9:15 am

Josh Papalii was the matchwinner for the Canberra Raiders, but coach Ricky Stuart will be sweating on the judiciary after the second-rower was placed on report.

The Raiders veteran scored the game-sealing try inside the final 10 minutes to send the Canberra crowd into a frenzy, and the Raiders into their first NRL grand final in 25 years.

But it was a tackle on Souths’ Adam Doueihi that landed Papalii in hot water earlier in the second half.

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The Rabbitohs fullback had picked up a grubber kick, and had Raiders’ counterpart Jordan Rapana all over him before he hit a Papalii-shaped brick wall.

Doueihi left the field to undergo a HIA assessment, but passed and returned a short time later.

In the meantime, referee Ben Cummins placed Papalii on report, deeming the Raiders star to have made contact to Doueihi’s head with his shoulder.

The prevailing sense though, was that Papalii had a strong case to escape sanction for the hit.

Josh Papalii, pictured celebrating the Raiders' preliminary final win, was placed on report in the second half. — Josh Papalii of the Raiders celebrates victory in the NRL Preliminary Final match between the Canberra Raiders and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at GIO Stadium on September 27, 2019 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Fox League commentator Steve Roach said ‘common sense’ would see Papalii available for next weekend’s grand final.

““I think common sense has to prevail,” Roach said.

“His job has to hit blokes as hard as he can.

“I think he hit Doueihi up under the chin. I can’t see how they’re going to suspend him.

“If worst comes to worst, fine him, but don’t let him miss a grand final.

“He’s their forward leader.”

Ricky Stuart slams decision to report Papalii

Raider coach Ricky Stuart spoke to radio station Triple M, where, predictably, he went in to bat for his player.

Stuart said the NRL would have ‘real issues’ if Papalii was wiped out for the decider.

“Our game has real issues if there’s an issue with that tackle, our game is a collision game,” he said.

“Our game is a tough game, it’s why you get 28,000 people here at this ground, they want to see these warriors play.

“We won’t have any problem with Josh Papalii’s tackle.”