Josh Papali'i retires from the Raiders, unveiling a mural of his iconic try, reflecting on an emotional farewell after 12 years.
An emotional Josh Papali'i has decided to retire from the Canberra Raiders, marking the end of his time as a one-club player.
As Canberra prepares for their last home match against Brisbane on Friday, a mural depicting Papali'i's iconic try from the 2019 preliminary final, which secured the Raiders a long-awaited grand final spot, was unveiled at GIO Stadium on Monday.
The artwork reveal deepened Papali'i's emotional state as he struggled to hold back tears.
At 34, he shared that leaving the club where he began his NRL journey in 2011 was a difficult choice, especially after a challenging 2026 season filled with injuries that affected his performance.