State of Origin 2024: Billy Slater urged to lure Josh Papalii out …
Leading into Game 3 of the 2025 State of Origin, Queensland coach Billy Slater made the surprise decision to recall veteran prop Josh Papalii, who had retired from representative football at the start of 2023 .
Slater revealed the move had been “in the back of his mind for a couple of years,” and following strong performances for the Canberra Raiders in 2025, he believed Papalii could still add real value to the Maroons pack .
Upon being contacted, Papalii (33) responded positively, showing he still carried the passion and drive to represent Queensland .
Slater described Papalii as having “an aura… a real warrior” whose presence provides leadership and belief .
Papalii joined the Maroons squad after a few days with his growing family, following the recent birth of his fourth child .
The decision was widely hailed as bold and strategic—combining seasoned experience with Slater’s typical selection courage .
Former stars and commentators supported the recall:
Gorden Tallis publicly urged Slater to reach out, calling Papalii exactly the kind of “enforcer” Queensland needed up front .
Teammates emphasized Papalii’s calming influence combined with fierce competitiveness as hugely valuable to the squad .
Although the recall happened ahead of the 2025 series decider, your question referenced “State of Origin 2024.” In 2024, there was speculation around recalls—like the suggestion to bring Papalii back—but the actual selection occurred in 2025, not 2024 .
2024 Retired (since early 2023) Urged by media/legends to recall (no recall)
2025 Strong club form, family reasons Slater formally recalls him for Game 3
Therefore, the specific headline “Billy Slater urged to lure Josh Papalii out” was indeed linked to 2024 speculation—but the actual execution came in 2025, when Papalii rejoined and featured in the Origin decider.
Billy Slater was urged back in 2024 to bring Papalii out of retirement.
The actual recall occurred ahead of State of Origin Game 3 in July 2025, with Papalii re‑entering the Maroons squad and making an impact in the decider.
It was a strategic and emotional move by Slater, welcomed by teammates and aligned with Queensland’s high-stakes approach.
Let me know if you’d like more on how Papalii performed in that game or what it meant for the series!
