NRL: Rapid rise for Kiwi Raider

Josh Papalii of the Raiders runs the ball. Photo / Getty Images

A former cult figure at the New Zealand Warriors has been responsible for developing a potential future Kiwis' representative - a rare success story from the underachieving Canberra Raiders' National Rugby League (NRL) season.

Josh Papalii, a teenage second rower in his debut season of first grade, credited Mark Tookey with guiding his rapid progress to the Raiders starting pack before the squad headed to Auckland for their do-or-die round 21 clash with the Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium on Sunday.

Tookey, the rotund front rower who played 67 games for the Auckland club between 2000 and 2004, first identified Auckland-born Papalii's talent when he was playing for Woodridge State High School.

After scouting the Brisbane schools' competition Tookey introduced Papalii and a couple of his mates to the Raiders system by signing them for Logan Brothers - Canberra's feeder club.

Tookey coached Papalii in the under-20s but it was soon apparent the hard-tackling 19-year-old was destined for greater things - and a move to the Australian capital.

"Tooks had a lot to do with my development so I owe him a lot," said Papalii, whose family left Auckland for Queensland when he was a six-year-old.

Papalii was contracted to the Raiders last year and after a couple of games for the SG Ball side he was promoted to the Toyota Cup squad.

He was listed on the under-20s roster at the start of this season, but an injury crisis forced head coach David Furner to blood Papalii against the Melbourne Storm in mid-May.

The 13th-placed Raiders, who have so far failed to reach pre-season expectations, upset the premiership contenders and Papalii has gone from strength to strength after four appearances off the interchange bench.

A Queensland under-18 rep and member of the Junior Kiwis squad last year, Papalii is now a fixture in the Raiders run-on pack - a remarkable rise in 12 months.

"I didn't think I'd be here this quick, I didn't even think I'd even be here," the softly-spoken Papalii told NZPA.

"I was pretty nervous at the start but the boys have been very welcoming, they've all been giving me advice."

Papalii said he models his approach on Kiwis and Raiders back rower Bronson Harrison.

"I've learnt a lot off Bronson. I try and follow what he does on and off the field."

Harrison has also had a role in Papalii's representative future by helping convince the rookie to pledge allegiance to the Kiwis over Queensland.

An unheralded member of the Kiwis' Four Nations-winning team last year, Harrison and the Raiders welfare manager Glen Turner, another New Zealander, successfully pushed the Kiwis' cause to Papalii last year.

"It wasn't a hard decision to make," said Papalii, who added Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney and Raiders legend Ruben Wiki also influenced the call to play for his homeland.

Selection for October's Four Nations tournament in the United Kingdom might be premature but it is clear Papalii has a promising future in the code.

He has impressed coaching staff and teammates alike with his work in combination with playmaker Josh McCrone, centre Jarrod Croker and wing Daniel Vidot on the Raiders' right edge.

"He's becoming a real force down there (right edge), linking with Joshy McCrone and creating some good metres," said Raiders captain Alan Tongue.

"He's a strong ball carrier and defensively he's on song as well."

NSW Origin forward Tom Learoyd-Lahrs also joined the Papalii fan club: "I don't think I've ever seen a bloke his age so developed and so strong," he said.

"He hasn't been in the system overly long and it usually takes a lot of players years to get to where he is now with his football.

"There's no substitute for enthusiasm, really. It's a massive thing when you're coming into grade like that, he's got an abundance of it."

- NZPA