Josh Papali'i reflected on his career challenges at a lunch honoring him near the Royal Canberra Golf Club.
Never mind preparing to become the most-capped Raider ever, at one point Josh Papali'i thought he was going to get sacked.
The Canberra Raiders great was reflecting on his glittering career and his thoughts turned to the tough times - like the occasional run-in with the law and the even rarer dropping to second grade.
These reflections were happening at a lunch organised in his honour at the Royal Canberra Golf Club on Monday - just metres from the putting green where Raiders chief executive Don Furner told then Parramatta coach Ricky Stuart Papali'i had backflipped on joining him at the Eels.