By rights, Canberra giant Josh Papalii should be in church this week enjoying some quality time with his Sydney-based pastor uncle.
Instead he has answered Queensland State of Origin coach Mal Meninga’s prayers.
The 183cm, 110kg human wrecking ball is on standby for the Maroons ahead of next week’s series opener as more uncertainty surrounds South Sydney back-rower Ben Te’o amid an assault investigation.
Rubbing shoulders with the likes of his childhood idol – Maroons great Gorden Tallis – at the Queensland team camp on the Sunshine Coast was the last place the softly spoken Papalii thought he would be this week.
“I was actually planning my week away when I got the call (from Maroons selectors) on Sunday night,” Papalii laughed.
“I was going to visit my uncle who is a pastor. I was just going to go to his church and stuff but I had to change plans.”
It was a dream come true for Papalii – and the realisation of a nightmare for Kiwi officials.
The New Zealand Rugby League had spent the past 18 months trying to thwart Meninga’s advances on the Auckland-born Papalii, a former Junior Kiwi.
“Being in Queensland all my life, it felt right,” said Papalii, who moved to Australia while in primary school.
“Now I want to give something back to Queensland.”
Maroons captain Cameron Smith did not seem surprised by Papalii’s decision.
“I have watched him since he was six years old. He played Logan Brothers (south of Brisbane) with my younger brother Matthew,” he said.
“I have watched him play for a very long time so it is good to see that he has progressed.”
Perhaps the only one fuming more than the Kiwis over Papalii’s switch is NSW forward Paul Gallen.
The Cronulla hardman was ropeable after copping two bone-rattling Papalii hits in last year’s NRL qualifying final, describing one of them as a “dog shot”.
“There’s no hard feelings against Gallen,” Papalii said.
“What happens on the field stays on the field – that’s footy.”
Smith could almost empathise with Gallen – almost.
“I try not to get tackled by Josh (in the NRL). I try not to get too wide defensively so I am not in front of him,” Smith laughed.
“He’s a big, strong kid and doesn’t mind getting involved in the physical stuff.
“That’s an important attribute and will help him play a fair bit of representative football.”
Smith said Papalii ticked all the boxes for an Origin player.
“He’s a hard-running forward who is very physical – that’s all you need in Origin,” he said.
“You don’t need too much fancy footwork or extravagant skill.
“You just need to be a tough bloke and that’s certainly what Josh is.”