CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
The NSW Blues remain tight-lipped over a terrifying reshuffle in the Queensland Origin side, ahead of the series decider in Sydney tomorrow night.
The most terrifying changes to the Maroons squad is the fact that the front row has been topped up will a full tank of unleaded, with the Logan Wrecking Ball, Josh Papali’i returning to representative football for the first time since 2022.
Today, it can be confirmed that Big Papa has arrived in Sydney – after a BMW was found destroyed in the streets surrounding Sydney Olympic Park.
It is believed that Queensland coaching staff responsible for transporting Josh Papali’i on the Queensland team truck had intentionally craned the NRL veteran onto the luxury vehicle, in turn, sending a clear message to their opponents and the Blues fans.
That is, the NSW defence will not stand a chance with 120 kilograms of rusted Queensland steel being swung at them from the back fence of Accor Stadium.
After a lengthy career that has seen him play in well over 370 NRL matches, and with nearly 70 NRL tries to his name, many had thought that the 33-year-old enforcer would never wear Maroon again.
However, after a stellar 2025 season for the Raiders, and the Queensland forwards learning some very crucial lessons in game 1, coach Billy Slater has made the executive decision to bring Big Papa home.
His game 3 call-up is reminiscent of a mid-30s Artie Beetson making his Origin debut to lead Queensland to an historic 20-10 series win in the first ever Origin decider of 1980.
With Flegler and Gilbert now added to the Maroons squad, the Blues are starting to realise that this might be one of those years where they they cut the ribbon on a new dynasty of footballers far too early.
The entire institution is now at risk of collapsing at the hands of an old fashioned Queensland demolition crew – who will take great pleasure in violating all the rules that were put in place to protect the overrated and boring history of NSW rugby league.
