{"id":183875,"date":"2025-10-02T01:13:14","date_gmt":"2025-10-02T01:13:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/183875\/"},"modified":"2025-10-02T01:13:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-02T01:13:14","slug":"josiah-karapani-brisbane-broncos-nrl-grand-final-nrl-season-2025-storm-v-broncos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/183875\/","title":{"rendered":"Josiah Karapani, Brisbane Broncos, NRL grand final, NRL season 2025, Storm v Broncos"},"content":{"rendered":"

A combination of hard work, a focus on accountability and an attitude shift has Josiah Karapani one win away from achieving his grand final dream.<\/p>\n

Now a mainstay in the Broncos team, Karapani underwent a steep learning curve this season, spending time with Burleigh Bears in the Hostplus Cup as he worked on his game.<\/p>\n


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\n Josiah Karapani takes a high ball against Penrith.
\n \u00a9Scott Davis \/ NRL Images
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Buoyed by the trust coach Michael Maguire has put into his development, the 23-year-old scored six tries in nine Cup appearances, mainly early in 2025, and 11 tries in 12 NRL appearances.<\/p>\n

\u201cMadge had trust in me and I knew there was a lot of pressure \u2026 but I think pressure is good \u2026 I\u2019ve just got to do what I believe I\u2019m capable of, just do my job,\u201d Karapani said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’m just doing a job in the best possible way I can.\u201d<\/p>\n


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Last time they met: Storm v Broncos<\/p>\n

Noticeably tested in the stunning preliminary final win over the Panthers, Karapani withstood a bombardment from Nathan Cleary and looking to Sunday\u2019s decider, he was expecting to contend with the likes of Eliesa Katoa. His \u2018twin\u2019 on the other wing Deine Mariner would have Xavier Coates as an aerial threat.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do a lot of reps to get prepared and I felt pretty confident taking those balls,\u201d Karapani said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf they want to keep kicking it to me, then I\u2019m still going to run hard.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was actually happy they kicked it to me, because I really wanted to run the ball back for the boys and I know how important it is to create that momentum for the team.<\/p>\n

\u201cUs as a back five, we have a big role to start the momentum and we know how much the forwards defend for us and we\u2019ve just got to give back to them.<\/p>\n

\u201cKatoa, he\u2019s been really good the last few weeks, and their wingers as well, but we\u2019ve done enough study on them before.<\/p>\n

“We\u2019ve played them twice in the past two months and we know how they play, we\u2019ve just go to work hard on the little details and I know we\u2019ll do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

This level of confidence is a sign of how far Karapani, who joined from South Sydney Rabbitohs before season 2024, has come since moving to Brisbane.<\/p>\n

While hard work has paid its part, the Auckland-born back credited the culture at the Broncos and support from his teammates, in particular Delouise Hoeter, for his success.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy head space wasn\u2019t really right (at Rabbitohs) \u2026 it got to a point where I didn\u2019t care anymore and I thought \u2018this is it\u2019 of trying to make it to NRL,\u201d Karapani said.<\/p>\n

\u201cCame up here for a chance. The boys here, they keep me accountable\u2026 they\u2019re always asking if I\u2019m doing things well off the field.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe culture is just something that stands out at this club. It\u2019s been helping me a lot.<\/p>\n

\u201cDela is always messaging me\u2026 making sure that I\u2019m doing things right.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know I need to work my butt off. Nothing comes easy.<\/p>\n

“I felt like if I just worked that extra mile, I\u2019d get to the point that I’m at\u2026 I know it’s not an easy club to come through, to make a spot on the team, you\u2019ve really got to work hard and get the other things right as well, that I didn\u2019t get right in Sydney.\u201d<\/p>\n


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\n Josiah Karapani started season 2025 with Burleigh Bears.
\n \u00a9Jason O’Brien \/ QRL
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His time spent at the Bears the past two seasons under coach Luke Burt has also made an impact and he said he was thrilled the side would feature in the NRL National Championship game, taking on the NSW Cup winners the Warriors.<\/p>\n

\u201c(Burt) helps me a lot, he always talks to me, every week, saying he really wants to build me up,\u201d Karapani said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s so genuine about it. He\u2019s always helping me and he always trusts me. He always says he sees a lot in me.”<\/p>\n


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\n Delouise Hoeter has been a mentor for Josiah Karapani.
\n \u00a9Gregg Porteous \/ NRL Images
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While Hoeter has only made one on-field appearance for the Broncos this season, the popular squad member said it was important to him to “to add value at the club in any way possible – on and off the field”, including mentoring younger players.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so proud of Josiah, he’s done an amazing job all year,” Hoeter said.<\/p>\n

“To be fair, it\u2019s \u2026 the whole team, I\u2019m proud of. Deine Mariner has been in the same boat – in and out of NRL this year and then at the back end of this year, they got an opportunity and to hold it and keep Selwyn Cobbo and Jesse Arthars out; Gehamat Shibasaki\u2026 so many good stories.<\/p>\n

\u201cJosiah\u2019s work ethic (has kept him in the team)\u2026 he fights for everything, whether it\u2019s in attack or defence.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like he\u2019s one of the best when it comes to reading plays \u2026 and scrambling. For us, effort is everything \u2026 he\u2019s not taking it for granted, I know that for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Acknowledging that only 17 players could make the cut for the grand final team, Hoeter said being part of the Broncos 2025 season had been an honour.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing able to be part of this journey, with this group of men, I\u2019m just super grateful and appreciate that I can be part of it, be there to witness how great this team can be,” Hoeter said.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery team relies on depth to be able to win the comp.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think everyone\u2019s mentality to push everyone to be at their best (has Broncos firing) because if they\u2019re not; anyone can slot in.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have so many good players (Madge) can pick from.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo see Josiah being able to play a grand final, come Sunday, I\u2019m just super proud of him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just can\u2019t wait for the boys to prove themselves on Sunday and come away with the prize that we all train for.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A combination of hard work, a focus on accountability and an attitude shift has Josiah Karapani one win…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":183876,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[568],"tags":[64,63,761,762,158,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-183875","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nrl","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-national-rugby-league","11":"tag-nationalrugbyleague","12":"tag-nrl","13":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/183875","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=183875"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/183875\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/183876"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=183875"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=183875"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=183875"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}