Isaiah Papali'i interview | Talks Tigers, injury & new club in 2025 04:17

The West Tigers sitting 17th, the Storm in first position, but as the Tigers supporters keep telling me, they're unbeaten here this year. They've won two games, this is their third, and I thought we'd catch up with one of their injured star players, Isaiah Papaliti, who joins us in the box. G'day, Isaiah. Hey, fellas. How's it going? Wonderful to see you, mate. It's nice and comfortable up here as opposed to being out there playing. Firstly, an ankle injury. When are we going to see you back? Um...

The physios have been telling me round 21, so I think that's the goal for me at the moment. All right, so a couple of weeks away still, so you'll be raring to get out there. What are your thoughts on this? I mean, obviously Benji's got a good hold of you blokes now and he understands what works, what doesn't. This is a real test, though, coming up against the latter leaders, isn't it? Yeah, I think...

The boys, obviously, have been doing well at this home ground and I think the challenge is obvious. They're the top of the table and they have to bring their best game tonight and I'm pretty excited to watch these boys go up. How about the return of Adam Dewey? He had a horrific injury, as we know. He had multiple operations to get back on the park. His first game back, he was outstanding. But as a teammate and someone who's seen him go through it, was it good to see him back playing? Yeah, I was very stoked for him. I think all the boys were...

just happy to see him get through that game to be honest. It's been a while since he's been out on the paddock and watching him perform like that, I don't think it was a surprise to us. He's

very professional when it comes to his preparation and how he's gone about his recovery and rehab. And just watching him do his thing was, yeah, pretty cool. Mate, even though you're out at the moment, I'm just having a look here, you're only 25 years of age and you've played 149 NRL games. You've been pretty resilient over your career. How old were you when you first started in first grade? Yeah, I started in 2017.

You're doing the math now. That's seven years ago. Yeah, and I've been pretty fortunate with my injury run hasn't been too bad, and I think this is the biggest injury I've had since coming into first grade. Can I compliment you on your glasses? They're lovely. They're very stylish, mate.

This is the thing, Darryl. See, I wear glasses and I've got the old school glasses. Yeah, they're old school. These are the in thing now. He looks cool, doesn't he? Yeah, he does look cool, but you should wear something like that if you want to get on to chicken. Yeah, but mate, he's a good looking bloke. Look at me. I've got to head for radio. Head like a beaten fader. I haven't touched the barber in... You've got the big beard on it, mate. You're engaged, right? You're getting married when, do you know? Ah.

Is that an issue? End of next year. That's a long engagement. Is that an issue? Is that an issue? Well, that is an issue. To me, that seems a long engagement. Are you sort of not completely sure? I've got to be fairly safe. It just seems a long time. Rugby league interviews become marriage gambling. Well, I can help out in that area. Been through one myself. LAUGHTER

Is that helping? Well, no, not really. She'll be listening at home, darling, man. Well, I hope not. You're off to Penrith next year. Was that a difficult decision for you to make or not? Yeah, I think it was pretty hard. Like, I still had a year worth of my contract here at the Tigers and I didn't want to look like I was copping out on the boys, but...

I think both parties were pretty mutual about me leaving at the end of this year. Yeah, that's how it worked out. What an opportunity for you out there. I mean, they're such a great side. I'm not saying they're going to improve you at all because you're a pretty handy player as it is, but you are moving into a side that's got a great history over the last five or six years. Darrell was one of the great Panthers, Isaiah, yes, sir. Yeah, you'll see me. When you walk into the Leagues Club, just look to the right. I actually captained them in...

1979. I might have an idea. I'm not sure. Was it at the Panthers or the Bulldogs where they said, you know, stop Broman, you stop Penrith? Or stop Broman, stop Bulldog? Well, it wasn't really. It was at both because I was the only one who said it. So I just used it wherever I played.

Isaiah, wonderful to see you, mate. And good luck to the boys tonight here at Leichhardt. You'll have another big crowd over on the hill. And stay warm because it's going to get very, very chilly. Yeah, I might stay up here for the evening. Yeah, mate, join the boys for the call. Why not? Good to see you, mate. Thank you. There he is, Isaiah Papali'i, back in round 21. So a couple of weeks away. His return for the West Tigers before he makes the move over to the Melbourne Storm.