Josh Papalii, fearing retirement from injury, finds motivation ahead of a crucial semi-final.
Canberra icon Josh Papalii was preparing for retirement after thinking he broke his ankle just as the Raiders were stepping up their NRL finals preparations.
Despite speculation among the rival Brisbane camp that the star forward's injury was a ploy concocted by coach Ricky Stuart as some sort of mental warfare, Papalii revealed he feared for the worst after collapsing at training earlier in September.
Ahead of a do-or-die semi-final against Cronulla on Saturday, the 33-year-old is using the experience as motivation.
"Every time I come into training I try and enjoy every day, because I just don't know when it's my last," Papalii told AAP.
"When I did my...