Canberra Raiders legend Josh Papalii has played his final home game for the club, bringing an emotional chapter of his remarkable 16-year career in Canberra to a close.
Papalii took the field for the Raiders against the Brisbane Broncos on Friday night, marking his final appearance at GIO Stadium before he retires from the NRL at the end of the 2026 season.
The 34-year-old made his NRL debut for Canberra in 2011 and has become the most-capped player in Raiders history. His appearance against Brisbane was his 341st for the club.
Papalii's career has included representative honours with Queensland and Australia, as well as Samoa. He was also a key member of Canberra's memorable 2019 campaign, including his famous try in the preliminary final against the Storm that helped send the Raiders into their first Grand Final in 25 years.
Ahead of his farewell, the Raiders paid tribute to their long-serving forward by temporarily renaming GIO Stadium “Papa's House”. The club also unveiled a mural celebrating his famous 2019 try.
Papalii's retirement means he will finish his career as a true one-club player, having spent his entire NRL career in Canberra.
For the Raiders, the departure of one of the club's greatest-ever forwards leaves more than just a hole in the forward pack. His leadership, experience and influence on younger players have made him an important figure around the club for more than a decade. Teammate Tom Starling said the current squad has a responsibility to continue the legacy Papalii has built.
After 16 seasons, hundreds of appearances and countless memorable moments, Big Papa's time in the nation's capital is coming to an end — but his legacy at the Canberra Raiders will live on.
