Josh Papalii has rubbished claims Canberra pressured him to backflip on a contract he signed with Parramatta, insisting family considerations were the decisive factor.
Speaking publicly for the first time since reneging on his Eels deal to re-sign with the Raiders, Papalii said suggestions the Raiders management used a guilt trip to change his mind were ''completely false''. Raiders officials sourced third-party sponsorships to help match Parramatta's offer once Papalii had told them he wanted to stay. But the back-rower said family, and not money, motivated his decision to remain in Canberra. Midway through last year, Papalii moved his tight-knit family from Queensland to Canberra and he couldn't bear uprooting them again.
''That [claims the Raiders pressured him] is completely false. If I didn't want to be here, I wouldn't be here,'' Papalii said.
''In all honesty, my decision came down to family … I thought about my family and the move they made from Queensland, my family really didn't want to move.
''I had to base it around family before I even thought about footy. Canberra's a nice and quiet place … [there's] just too much trouble in Sydney. My little sisters have enrolled in different schools. To see them move down here, make friends and have to move again, it's not good for my parents or good for them as well.''
Asked whether he had spoken with Eels coach Ricky Stuart to explain his decision, Papalii said: ''I talked to him before [staying at Canberra] but not lately.''
The Raiders used the NRL's clause, which gives an incumbent club until round 13 to renegotiate with players. Papalii said he did not regret the change of decision.
''Not really, I'm just glad it's in the past now,'' he said. ''The rules were in there, and we read the rules before we did anything, at the end of the day we're not in the wrong. The biggest regret I would have is to do something and to go somewhere I don't want to go. I'm pretty happy living here in Canberra.
''To be honest, at the time [I signed the Eels contract] the Raiders didn't have what I wanted. I found out about the rule and I told the Raiders I wanted to stay, and to do what it takes to keep me.''
Papalii's decision came just a few months after he pledged his allegiance to Queensland, despite earlier signing a letter of intent to represent New Zealand. Eels fans were outraged when he turned his back on them, but the second-rower said the criticism would not affect him.
''Every rugby player gets criticism, it just comes with the sport,'' he said. ''It sort of takes time to realise where your heart really is. It took me a while, and I'm happy where I am now. At the end of the day, Parra had the money there, but it didn't suit my family reasons.''
Papalii confirmed he had discussed his situation with Maroons coach and Raiders legend Mal Meninga before staying with the Green Machine. But he denied Meninga, who assumes an ambassadorial role with the Raiders, pressured him to stay with Canberra.
''I talked to Mal a little bit, he said he'd support my decision whatever I chose,'' Papalii said. ''He didn't try and lay his foundation on me or anything, he was more ears than he was to advise me.''
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