PAPA'S OUR BIG BOPPER

JOSH Papalii knew he had to make sacrifices.

Talent can only get you so far and Papalii’s career was starting to stagnate.

The big-hitting backrower made his State of Origin debut in 2013 as a 21year-old but found himself on the outer after just three matches.

“To be honest I know why I wasn’t picked for the other games,” Papalii said.

“I was overweight and playing poor. There’s no secret to it.

“I wasn’t playing the best footy.

“If I was a selector I would have dropped myself.”

Papalii’s honest admission comes on the eve of the biggest game of his career.

Now 23, the Raiders missile has earned a Queensland recall for tomorrow’s decider at Suncorp Stadium.

The Maroons were ambushed by the bustling Blues at the MCG three weeks ago and know they must fight fire with fire.

And Papalii (pictured) is the man coach Mal Meninga plans to unleash on them.

At 110kg and 183cm, Papalii will add some defensive starch off the bench and his second chance in league’s greatest arena has come after a wake-up call.

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart demanded Papalii lift his game following a slow start to the season and the Logan product has swapped pizza and carbonara pasta for healthier options.

“Most players would know I don’t eat the cleanest,” Papalii said.

“I had to change a few things around to do more on the field and it’s definitely paying off.

“I’ve had some terrible form back at club footy.

“I was a bit overweight and playing prop at the start of the season.

“I was struggling to keep my spot at Canberra. I was talking to my family and the missus tipped me up on it.

“I don’t want to go anywhere else. To keep my spot I had to knuckle down and play good footy.”

Papalii’s teammates have noticed the difference in him.

The Sanctuary Cove buffet didn’t receive the same sort of workout it has in the past and Queensland bookend Matt Scott is expecting big things from “Papa” tomorrow.

“He’s lot more professional

a than I’ve seen over the years,” Scott said.

“He’s doing extras and he’s watching what he eats. He’s being really careful.

“He’s capable of (succeeding in Origin). He’s going to have a job to do.

“It’s not specifically to come in and bash (David) Klemmer and guys like that. He brings his own style of footy to the team.

“I’m hopeful he gets his head right, knows his role and plays well.”

Papalii will add a different dynamic to the Queensland bench which has been one dimensional in the opening two games.

He will bring impact along with crunching defence and five-eighth Johnathan Thurston said his Xfactor was welcome.

“That’s what he’s been added to the team to do (add mongrel),” he said. “He’s powerful and strong. He loves the contact.”

Papalii made a name for himself in the 2012 finals series when he went after Blues skipper Paul Gallen.

Gallen accused him of a “dog shot” but Papalii said he had matured since then.

“Ever since then we’ve played together (Kangaroos) and against each other and nothing else has happened. It’s just a game of footy.”