Josh Papalii's shoulder to the jaw of Canterbury's Tui Katoa put him out for three weeks, including Origin, but he's copped the ban "on the chin", so to speak, as he returns to the field this Saturday.
The Raiders international believes he paid a heavy price for the high contact crackdown which gained momentum in Magic Round but knows there is no point kicking stones about the three-game punishment which included the State of Origin series opener.
"I'm all good, I had a three-week holiday there," Papalii said.
"I got to spend more time with family, did a bit of running as well and got to watch footy from the outside.
"I am [refreshed], pretty pumped. Just a shame I can't play on Wednesday but it is what it is, that's footy, I have to learn how to adapt to the new rules and just get on with it."
More:
https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/06/08/copping-it-on-the-chin-papalii-out-to-make-amends-after-ban/
Topic: 'Copping it on the chin': Papalii out to make amends after ban
