FORMER Raiders captain Alan Tongue says it will be devastating if Josh Papalii leaves Canberra, and remains optimistic the dynamic forward will rethink his decision to join Parramatta.
The Eels announced on Friday night they had secured Papalii's services for the next three years on a deal understood to be worth $1.5 million.
Papalii's departure would be a massive blow to the Raiders, given they identified him through their affiliation with the Souths Logan club in Brisbane and relocated his family to Canberra.
Tongue was at the helm of the Raiders in 2011 when Papalii burst into first-grade.
Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/losing-kiwi-powerhouse-would-be-a-major-blow-says-tongue-20130223-2eyyn.html#ixzz2LmcjU2vg
Topic: Losing Kiwi powerhouse would be a major blow, says Tongue
