BY ROB

A normal Rumble would consist of a quick recap, a frank but fair assessment of the opposition and some very vague speculation about how the game might unfold on the weekend.

This round is not normal.

On Sunday afternoon, in front of what should be a healthy home crowd, Josh “Big Papa” Papali’i will become the most capped player in the history of the Canberra Raiders. He will pass club legend Jason “Toots” Croker (318 games) after having already eclipsed his friend Jarrod “Toots”* Croker (307 games).

Big Papa has achieved this monumental milestone despite a number of hurdles, some of them self-inflicted. He’s worked through injury, demotion and off-field issues. He’s had to grow not just as a player but as a person, learning to lead by example on and off the pitch.

And what a leader he is now. Despite twilight turning her gaze upon his career he refuses to give up. A few years back he told selectors he could no longer give his all for the Maroons, choosing to devote his efforts to the club he loves.

In the 24-25 off-season he identified physical change as a necessity for his continued appearances, showing up to round 1 in Vegas looking svelte and agile. He may no longer be a starting prop, but he’s learned to adapt that energy coming off the bench, and more than once this year it’s been that energy that has taken a sometimes struggling Raiders side, turned it back against the opposition and rammed it into them at full speed.

Perhaps it’s fate that the Rabbitohs will return to Canberra this weekend, given that they were the foil for arguably one of the greatest Raiders tries outside of a grand final. Papa’s charge to the line in that tense 2019 prelim is the crowning moment of his career, his arms braced against the turf of the in-goal as he lets out a victorious roar, Bunnies players skittled on all sides of him (with poor old Damien Cook standing five metres out from the line wondering what just happened).

Things have changed since then. Papa is truly the last of a generation. One of the only links to that previous era his former teammate Jack Wighton who will run out as a Rabbitoh on Sunday. Papa’s been here so long that the likes of Sav Tamale and Noah Martin were barely in primary school when Josh made his NRL debut.

I’ll be attending my second home game of the season, appropriately rugged up and with my beloved “Frankenflag” in hand. If you’re still on the fence I urge you to get along!

With all the pomp and circumstance out of the way we should probably talk about the game itself. The Raiders are currently the winningest team in the league, having converted ten of their thirteen starts into victories. Last week they staged yet another rundown, reeling in a somewhat fortunate Roosters side and eventually squeezing past them 26-24.

The Bunnies meanwhile are the very definition of mid. They’ve managed to knock off the likes of the Panthers and Roosters, but have succumbed to the Sharks and the Knights. Their worst run thus far has been rounds 6-9, four straight losses before they bounced back against the Broncos. The Raiders will be a real challenge for them.

Round 14 sees some key personnel resume their places in the top 17, with Fogarty returning from injury and Starling back after his one week suspension. Their return means that Ethan Sanders rejoins the Cup squad after his very good first foray into a Raiders NRL jersey, whilst Owen Pattie resumes his spot on the bench. Sticky has opted to play Papa as a starting prop this weekend in a nod to how effective he has been in that role previously. We’ll see if that’s how it lands on game day.

For the Bunnies Latrell Mitchell remains a key point of attack. The man is capable of producing footy insanity and if the Rabbitohs can somehow stay within reach of the Milk he could break the game in their favour. Cody Walker is also returning.

So this Sunday afternoon get comfortable, either at the ground or on your lounge, and cheer for Big Papa and his 319 (and counting) games in green!

In Conclusion

The Raiders traditionally are not very good at either milestone games or jerseys but this one should go their way. It’s also game 100 for Corey Horsburgh (97 Raiders/2 Bulldogs) and Matt Timoko (100 Raiders)!

Raiders by 12+, with another Big Papa meat pie between the uprights.

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