BREAKING: Josh Papali’i Confirms Shock Switch to St Helens for 2026 Super League Season….
Josh Papali’i Set for Super League Switch in 2026 with St Helens
Veteran NRL forward Josh Papali’i has confirmed he will leave the Canberra Raiders at the end of the 2025 season and take up a new challenge with English Super League giants **St Helens** in 2026.
Papali’i, 33, announced his plans during a radio interview, revealing that the 2025 season will be his last in the NRL. “When it comes to the end of 2025, it’ll be the last time people see me in a green jersey,” he said. “I’d love to keep playing on, but just not in Canberra.”
The Samoa and Queensland representative has spent his entire NRL career with the Raiders, debuting in 2011 and amassing over 280 appearances. Known for his toughness and work ethic, Papali’i has long been regarded as one of the game’s premier front-rowers.
St Helens, one of Super League’s most successful clubs, are understood to have made initial enquiries earlier this year, and Papali’i is now set to join the four-time champions as part of their forward rebuild.
While the move is not expected to be officially registered until closer to the end of 2025, Papali’i’s experience and leadership are expected to be a major asset for Saints in their 2026 campaign.
