Josh Papali’i’s wife, Masepa, has been banned from attending local Canberra rugby league games for 10 years.
Channel Nine’s Wide World of Sports r Josh Papali’i’s wife, Masepa, has been banned from attending local Canberra rugby league games for 10 years.
Channel Nine’s Wide World of Sports eports that the ban was imposed after she allegedly entered the field during a brawl, with footage of the incident spreading widely on social media.
The suspension comes just before Josh is set to play his 300th first-grade game against the Bulldogs at Belmore Sports Ground this Sunday.
The ban affects only local Canberra league matches, so Masepa will still be able to watch her husband’s milestone game this weekend.
At Belmore, the well-respected Papali’i will become the third Raider to achieve 300 games for the club, joining Jason Croker and Jarrod Croker.
The 32-year-old debuted for Canberra as a teenager in 2011 and began representing Queensland and Australia just two years later.
He played 23 matches for Queensland and earned 11 caps for the Kangaroos before retiring from representative football in 2022.
“Papa truly understands his roots and the value the game has given him, and he appreciates the people,” Raiders legend Alan Tongue told NRL.com.
“He is very humble and enjoys working in the community; that’s who he is. He will sign autographs and take selfies long after the game has ended, even when the other players are inside waiting to sing the song or talk to the coach.”
“We recognized from the very beginning how exceptional he would become; he never took a step back.
“Three weeks after his debut, when we were down 18-0 against the Broncos, he scored twice to bring us back into the game. Although we lost in extra time, his performance at such a young age was outstanding, and I knew I was leaving the club in capable hands with players like Papa, Shaun Fensom, and Jarrod Croker.”
Despite his impressive on-field performance, Tongue highlighted that one of Papali’i’s greatest strengths is his dedication to mentoring the next generation of Raiders forwards, helping them reach their full potential.
“Players enjoy playing with him because they appreciate the person he is,” Tongue said.
“He has been deeply involved in leading and mentoring the younger players.
“Players like Trey Mooney, Ata Mariota, and Peter Hola have been fortunate to witness how someone like Papa approaches his role.
“His legacy will be defined not only by his significant number of games but also by his impact on the upcoming generation of players.”
