- Josh Papalii’s wife had the couple’s fourth child
- He missed the birth to play against the Knights
- Prop is in career-best form for Raiders at 33
Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has hailed the ‘unbelievable sacrifice’ of Josh Papalii’s wife, after she gave her blessing for the veteran prop to miss the birth of their son so he could play against the Knights on Friday night.
Sepa Salesa welcomed the couple’s fourth child – Jeremiah Papalii – into the world just hours before kick-off, and it didn’t go unnoticed by a thankful Stuart.
‘The reason I have Paps here today, an unbelievable sacrifice from Sepa – Josh’s wife – who had a baby boy this afternoon, Jeremiah,’ Stuart told reporters at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle at the post-game press conference.
‘It was always going to be touch and go whether Sepa could hang on or what not, but she wanted Josh to go away and play.
‘It was an unbelievable sacrifice from a new mother.’
Papalii – who chalked up 106 running metres and made 31 tackles as the Raiders won 22-18 to become the new NRL ladder leaders – said he was ‘pretty excited’ and was ‘looking forward to checking on the wife and holding my new son.’
Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has hailed the ‘unbelievable sacrifice’ of Josh Papalii’s wife (pictured) after she gave her blessing for the veteran prop to miss the birth of their son so he could play against the Knights on Friday
Papalii – who chalked up 106 running metres and made 31 tackles as the Raiders won 22-18 in Newcastle – said he was ‘looking forward to checking on the wife and holding my new son’
‘I told ‘Sticky’ at the start of the week that she was sort of due around Friday,’ he added.
‘I also told the boys that my missus said make sure we come home with the two points and she’ll deliver the baby.
‘I’m glad both happened.’
It comes as Papalii prepares to leave the club at the end of the season, with St Helens his destination next year in the English Super League.
‘Papa came and spoke to (CEO) Don Furner and I some time ago and told us that he has some interest in England and also other NRL clubs….and he simply said, ‘I can’t play against the Raiders,’ Stuart told News Corp.
‘From our club’s point of view, we couldn’t be prouder of Josh.
‘He’s been an extremely loyal player and when the discussion turns to legends of the Raiders, one of the first names spoken will be Papa’s.’
Papalii, 33, made his NRL debut with Canberra in 2011 and is now the club’s most capped player.
The prop’s form has been so impressive this season that he could earn a recall for Queensland ahead of the Origin series decider on July 9 in Sydney.
