{"id":51596,"date":"2025-06-29T23:15:41","date_gmt":"2025-06-29T23:15:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.letsportsrock.com\/?p=51596"},"modified":"2025-06-29T23:15:41","modified_gmt":"2025-06-29T23:15:41","slug":"st-helens-coach-responds-to-josh-papalii-speculation-amid-overseas-retention-latest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.letsportsrock.com\/?p=51596","title":{"rendered":"St Helens coach responds to Josh Papali\u2019I speculation amid overseas retention latest&#8230;"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"d79db4796efc26332eabfc3f5dafbc76\" data-index=\"1\" style=\"float: none; margin:10px 0 10px 0; text-align:center;\">\n<div class=\"hb-ad-inarticle\">\r\n    <div class=\"hb-ad-inner\"> \r\n    <div class=\"hbagency_cls\"  id=\"hbagency_space_111930\"><\/div><\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>St Helens coach responds to Josh Papali\u2019I speculation amid overseas retention latest&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>St Helens head coach Paul\u202fWellens has notably refused to confirm that Josh Papali\u2019i is joining the club, despite widespread speculation linking the Canberra Raiders legend to a move to Super League next season .<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-51601\" src=\"https:\/\/www.letsportsrock.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/images-2025-06-30T001434.884-300x200.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.letsportsrock.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/images-2025-06-30T001434.884-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.letsportsrock.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/images-2025-06-30T001434.884.jpeg 678w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I\u2019ve read the same things but I can\u2019t really comment too much on paper speculation,&#8221; he told reporters when asked about Papali\u2019i .<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>He praised Papali\u2019i\u2019s career \u2014 citing his international &amp; State of Origin credentials \u2014 but emphasized that&#8217;s no different from admiration shown for many top forwards .<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Ricky Stuart (Papali\u2019i\u2019s coach at Canberra) confirmed the 33-year-old expressed a desire not to play against the Raiders, signalling he wants to finish his career in Super League .<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Papali\u2019i is reportedly in negotiations for a two\u2011year contract with St Helens starting in 2026 .<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>St Helens currently has five overseas players entering the final year of their deals (Mbye, Paasi, Sironen, Hurrell, plus James Bell who\u2019s already confirmed a move). Wellens confirmed the club is actively reviewing each situation and working behind the scenes with players\/managers \u2014 with decisions expected in the coming weeks and months .<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>He reiterated the club\u2019s strategy: strengthen from within first, but if needed, supplement the squad externally to bolster depth .<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>No confirmation yet from St Helens, as Wellens sticks to cautious remarks on speculation.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>But it&#8217;s clear Papali\u2019i is actively arranging a move to the Super League, with Saints strongly linked as his destination.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>St Helens is in the midst of a key overseas roster overhaul; Papali\u2019i, if signed, would slot into depth strategy for 2026.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Let me know if you\u2019d like a detailed breakdown of Saints\u2019 overseas players, Papali\u2019i\u2019s Raiders career stats, or how this move could impact Super League dynamics!<\/p>\n\n<div style=\"font-size: 0px; height: 0px; line-height: 0px; margin: 0; padding: 0; clear: both;\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>St Helens coach responds to Josh Papali\u2019I speculation amid overseas retention latest&#8230; &nbsp; St Helens head coach Paul\u202fWellens has notably refused to confirm that Josh Papali\u2019i is joining the club, despite widespread speculation linking the Canberra Raiders legend to a move to Super League next season . &#8220;I\u2019ve read the same things but I can\u2019t [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":51600,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[701],"class_list":["post-51596","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-canberra-raiders"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is 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