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\n Celebrations with Joash Papalii and Will Penisini against the Broncos.
\n \u00a9Zain Mohammed \/ NRL Images
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Eels rookie Joash Papalii sat in the front car of the rugby league roller coaster last night, with his emotions fluctuating from agony to ecstasy as Parramatta held on 22-20 to upset the Broncos.<\/p>\n
Playing his first full game at fullback since making his NRL debut with the club in Round 12, Papalii fumbled a Gehamat Shibasaki kick in the final minute of the game, with his opposite number Reece Walsh steaming in to collect the ball and it seemed, steal a late win with a last gasp try.<\/p>\n
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\n Celebrations with Joash Papalii and Will Penisini against the Broncos.
\n \u00a9Zain Mohammed \/ NRL Images
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However, his would-be match winner was overturned by the Bunker for being offside, and Papalii \u2013 who had thrown himself to the ground with his head in his hands \u2013 was able to celebrate a special win.<\/p>\n
\u201c(It was a roller coaster) 100 percent, that’s my first game playing fullback proper and also my first game at Suncorp, it’s pretty unreal, just looking at the stadium and getting a feeling of it, it’s like a dream come true,\u201d Papalii said.<\/p>\n
\u201c(When I was younger), I was always playing in the backyard and always dreamed about playing NRL, playing at Suncorp and all these places and to get the win as well, I’m pretty grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Part of the future vision for the club under coach Jason Ryles, Papalii \u2013 who is a nephew of NRL great Josh Papalii \u2013 has been a breath of fresh air in the team and has had an interesting start to his NRL career.<\/p>\n
Made to wait to get his debut after serving as the replacement player for seven matches in the lead up, he played 79th minutes and scored a try in his first game, coming from the bench to play on the wing after Will Penisini failed his HIA.<\/p>\n
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Debut delight for Papalii<\/p>\n
He has since played at hooker and five-eighth, but with regular custodian Isaiah Iongi sidelined with a broken hand, is set to get an extended run at fullback.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe season’s actually been really crazy, but good at the same time,\u201d Papalii said.<\/p>\n
\u201cStarted on the wing for my debut and didn’t expect it, but made my way through and started to play a couple of games and played a bit of 9 and off the bench and then after that, in the halves.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have got to take the opportunity and just take it with both hands and back yourself.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo play fullback for my first game; I’ve always wanted to play \u2026 it\u2019s pretty surreal, but I\u2019ve got my boy Isaiah Iongi and I want to play alongside with him.\u201d<\/p>\n
A former Bulldogs juniors, Papalii said he had trained as a utility and it helped he was \u201cpretty much playing everywhere\u201d coming through the grades.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just knew how to adapt quick at (different) stages, I was pretty used to (playing different positions),\u201d Papalii said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew my job when Izzy went down, I just knew my job straight away at fullback and nothing changes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’ve been through that stage and I’m just grateful that I get to play different positions, get a feeling (for it), because you never know (when you mind need to step in).\u201d<\/p>\n
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From the field: Mitch Moses<\/p>\n
The win also saw the return of halfback Mitch Moses, who made an instant impact with his kicking game in particular, with Papalii thrilled to get his first game alongside the representative half.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo actually play with one of the best halves in the game, Moses, it was unreal,\u201d Papalii said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst time playing alongside of him, it’s crazy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI watched him on TV and to actually play in real life, it’s actually crazy \u2026 he just told me to back myself, keep it simple, don’t overplay \u2026 but playing with the top players is just unreal.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Josh Addo-Carr Try<\/p>\n
Eels winger Josh Addo-Carr \u2013 who crossed for his 150th career try in what proved to be the match winner \u2013 said was happy to see the development of Papalii and that he would learn a lot from the thrills and spills of the Broncos game.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe’s my roomie! He’s a character, but he really loves his footy and he’s been ticking every box to be the best he can be,\u201d Addo-Carr said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was a special effort from him to be playing his first game at fullback. I know that’s his natural position (but) playing against a quality team in Brisbane Broncos and you had the kicking game of Adam Reynolds; he would have been thinking he’s coming up against the best kicker in the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the late fumble, Addo-Carr was relieved the try was called back and said it would have been harsh for his team and his fullback if the Broncos had been able to snatch back a late victory.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat’s just footy \u2026 I feel like you just create your own luck,” Addo-Carr said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe worked extremely hard at the start of the game to set up the whole game and we just got lucky in the end there.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s a good lesson for him there. Like I said, it was his first game at fullback, so just so proud of his efforts and he’s got a bright future in the Parramatta Eels.\u201d<\/p>\n
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All Tries \u2013\u00a0 Broncos v Eels<\/p>\n
One of the most experienced players in a relatively young team, \u2018The Foxx\u2019 said he was also enjoying his role helping mentor the next crop of players coming through the club, like Papalii.<\/p>\n
\u201cRylesy\u2019s given us a system and he’s driving the standard as much as he can, and we’ve got a lot of young boys that are still learning there trade,\u201d Addo-Carr said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere’s a couple of old heads that are trying to teach the young boys, and for me, I’m just really enjoying, being a part of that role.\u201d<\/p>\n
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