Canberra Raiders legend Josh Papali’i has officially announced his retirement from professional rugby league, bringing an end to a remarkable 16-season NRL career.
Papali’i confirmed his decision on Monday, August 17, announcing that he will retire at the conclusion of the 2026 NRL season. His announcement comes ahead of what will be his final home game for the Canberra Raiders at GIO Stadium this Friday night. The 34-year-old forward has spent his entire NRL career with Canberra after making his first-grade debut for the club in 2011. He has since become the most-capped player in Raiders history and will finish his career as a one-club player. Papali’i is set to make his 341st and final appearance for Canberra at GIO Stadium when the Raiders take on the Brisbane Broncos on Friday.
Over the course of his career, Papali’i established himself as one of the most respected forwards of his generation. He has scored 67 tries for the Raiders and played a key role in some of the biggest moments in the club’s recent history. One of his most memorable moments came during Canberra’s 2019 finals campaign, when Papali’i scored the match-winning try in the closing stages of the preliminary final against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, sending the Raiders through to the NRL Grand Final. The club has since unveiled a mural at GIO Stadium commemorating the iconic moment.
A decorated representative career
Papali’i’s impact extended well beyond Canberra. He represented Queensland 24 times in State of Origin, establishing himself as a reliable and physical presence in the Maroons forward pack. After initially retiring from representative football, Papali’i made a surprise return in 2025 and helped Queensland secure a series victory in the deciding match, marking his 24th and final Origin appearance. He also represented Australia, making 11 international appearances and being part of the Kangaroos side that won the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.
But for many Pacific and Samoan rugby league fans, perhaps the most meaningful chapter of Papali’i’s representative career came when he chose to represent Toa Samoa. After previously representing Australia, Papali’i switched his international allegiance to Samoa in 2017. He went on to represent Samoa at multiple international tournaments, including the 2022 Rugby League World Cup, where Toa Samoa made history by reaching the World Cup final for the first time. Papali’i spoke openly about what representing Samoa meant to him, describing his Samoan identity as a major part of who he was as a person, player, husband and father.For Toa Samoa supporters, Papali’i became a fan fav and an important figure during a period when Pacific rugby league was making an enormous impact on the international game. His decision to wear the Samoan jersey, after already achieving so much with Australia and Queensland, resonated deeply with fans across Samoa and the Pacific. His Toa Samoa career included 10 appearances through the 2022 World Cup, where he helped the team reach its historic first World Cup final. He later returned to represent Samoa in the 2025 Pacific Championships, adding another chapter to his international career.
Papali’i’s representative journey ultimately saw him wear the jerseys of Australia, Queensland and Samoa, giving him a unique place in the history of rugby league and making his legacy one that extends well beyond the green and gold of Canberra.
Read the Canberra Raiders’ official retirement announcement here.
