Source : the age
Everyone remembers their NRL debut, but there are moments of Joash Papalii’s first game on Friday night he is going to have to watch back. Because he had his eyes closed.
The 20-year-old Eels junior was supposed to play off the bench, but was instead thrown into the match after 90 seconds when Will Penisini was concussed in the second minute.
With 150 of his closest family and friends in the crowd, Papalii played 78 minutes, scored a try and confirmed his reputation as a star of the future in the Eels’ 30-10 upset over the Sea Eagles. But as he crossed the line to score in the 24th minute, he closed his eyes and hoped for the best.
“I did not expect it,” he said. “I just told myself, just keep moving, just push and then when I saw Dylan Walker break the line, I was like, ‘he’s breaking’. I had to get on my bike.
“And then when I saw Dean Hawkins, he got tackled, and then he looked at me, and he just chucked it [the ball], and I was like, oh, I’ve got to grab it. And I was about to go in the corner, and then I was like, I’ve got to come back in, and then I threw the dummy, and I was like, am I actually over the line?
“And when I opened my eyes I was like, wow, I actually got it. And I did not expect it. I was so happy. And when I heard the crowd it was so loud. I’ve always dreamed about this – watching it as the 18th man, experiencing the boys playing, it’s all I ever wanted to do.”
Eels junior Joash Papalii with his father, Pele, and mother, Margaret, after the match.Credit: Parramatta Eels
It was a long time coming for the rising star who grew up supporting Parramatta.
After seven weeks as the team’s 18th man, Papalii was called into the office of coach Jason Ryles on Monday to be told the good news.
“He just told me straight, ‘you’ll be debuting this week’, and in my mind I was like, are you joking?” Papalii said.
“I was about to cry – I try to hold my tears – [but] when he said it, it was a relief. I didn’t expect it. I didn’t expect it this week. But I had to be ready for anything.”
As he bounded onto the field, the crowd erupted – 150 of them wearing jumpers and T-shirts plastered with his face.
“I’ve always wanted to do that my whole life, and I grew up being a Parramatta fan as well, my whole life, and to do it at this club is so special, it feels surreal,” he said.
“[My aim was to] try and bring that energy on that wing, try and get involved and try and bring that energy, and just keep chatting. I thought chat helped me with our right edge; the more I chat, the more I’m comfortable on that edge, so I just took deep breaths, making sure that I’m not panicking, making sure that I’m owning moments.”
Joash Papalii with his family and friends after helping the Eels to victory on Friday night.Credit: Parramatta Eels
It was a surreal moment for Papalii’s father, Pele, and mother, Margaret.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Margaret said. “I never thought that he would actually run on the field really in the game because I was too busy doing the T-shirts outside, and then as soon as I walked in I saw him, and he was already on the field.
“We got made 200 [jumpers and T-shirts] in total, not including the T-shirts that people ordered from overseas, so there’s a backlog batch that we’re going to send over on Monday. Overseas friends, family, New Zealand, America, Hawaii – I think there are 90 that are waiting to be posted out.”
But the moment was just as much about giving back for Papalii, who never would have made his debut without the support of his family.
“That’s all I wanted to do, is give back to them – my dad and mum and all the sacrifices they’ve given me throughout my life,” Papalii said.
“All the trainings, all the drives, even they would take off work to take me [to footy], and I just wanted to give back and make them proud.”
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