Maroons tyro has history with captain Cam

HE was just a kid playing under-6s rugby league when Josh Papalii first came across his future Maroons skipper, Cameron Smith.

The pair both rose through the ranks at Logan Brothers, with Papalii playing in the same team as Smith’s younger brother Matt, starting from under-6s. Smith’s parents Wayne and Sonia ran the team as coach and manager, respectively.

As for Cameron, eight years Papalii’s elder?

“He used to run the waters on for us and his little brother used to get the best boots from Cam as well,” Papalii said..

“Then watching Cam play State of Origin and Australia, that’s all I wanted to do.”

Papalii has successfully followed that path and on Wednesday night, will line up for his seventh State of Origin appearance – his first in the starting side.

Despite Canberra’s mixed fortunes through the opening 12 rounds of the season, Papalii has been a force with the ball in hand. But he will have his work cut out at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday with Josh Jackson standing opposite him.

The NSW workhorse is one of the game’s best defenders and only last month restricted Papalii to 113 running metres – well down on his season average of 144m – in a Bulldogs win over the Raiders.

“He is pretty fit so he will go all day,” Papalii said of Jackson’s impact.

“You know you will be in for a game when you line up against Josh Jackson.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge.”