Raiders veteran Josh Papali\u2019i is having second thoughts about a move to the Super League, and instead is \u201copen to offers\u201d from rival NRL clubs, it has been revealed.<\/p>\n
Papali\u2019i had been linked to a move to St Helens at the end of this season, when he comes off contract.<\/p>\n
But now he is likely to remain in the NRL, and it\u2019s a turn of events that has caught the Raiders off guard, according to The Daily Telegraph\u2019s Michael Carayannis.<\/p>\n
FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer ><\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI think everyone just assumed Josh Papali\u2019i was going to go to the Super League at the end of the season,\u201d Carayannis said on NRL 360 on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was linked to St Helens and I\u2019m not sure if it\u2019s because of his form, his Origin recall, whatever the case may be, but he\u2019s made it clear to those close to him that he doesn\u2019t really want to go to the Super League.<\/p>\n \u201cHe wants to remain in the NRL and that\u2019s caused the Raiders, it\u2019s caught them a little bit by surprise, because they hadn\u2019t budgeted in their salary cap for him for next season.<\/p>\n \u201cLook, obviously, they\u2019ll move everything to try and fit him in next year, but at the moment Josh Papali\u2019i\u2019s on the market and I think he\u2019s open to offers from rival clubs.\u201d<\/p>\n When asked by host Braith Anasta if Papali\u2019i would remain with the Raiders, Carayannis said there\u2019s no certainty that would be the case.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d say so, right, but it\u2019s not a foregone conclusion,\u201d Carayannis added.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019s open to listening (to offers from other clubs), definitely open to listening.<\/p>\n \u201cThe form that he\u2019s in, the experience that he has, the real lack of middles in the competition, you could sit down and rattle off 10, 12 sides, which could do with a middle like Josh Papali\u2019i.<\/p>\n \u201cThe only issue that I think people believe is that, well, he probably won\u2019t leave.<\/p>\n \u201cThe more it drags on, the other clubs are definitely going to have an enquiry around what his future may look like.\u201d<\/p>\n Carayannis said if Papali\u2019i were to remain with the Raiders, another player would need to exit the club, given the nature of their salary cap situation next season.<\/p>\n \u201cSo if he does play on, and stays in Canberra, someone will have to move on, that\u2019s the reality of their situation at the moment,\u201d Carayannis said.<\/p>\n Panellist James Hooper said he didn\u2019t want to see Papali\u2019i, who is the Raiders\u2019 first grade games record holder, playing at another NRL club.<\/p>\n MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n MCKINNON: Next move Knights must nail, why O\u2019Brien should walk before pushed<\/a><\/p>\n POWER RANKINGS: Big Bulldogs doubts as Broncos time run to perfection<\/a><\/p>\n