When a player joins a new club, it can often take some time for them to get acquainted with their new teammates, learn a new playbook, and get up to speed with a new fitness regimen.
By their own admission, premiership winners Luke Garner and Scott Sorensen took many months to get used to the Panthers system and only truly found their feet after their first full season at the foot of the Mountains.
For 2025 recruit Isaiah Papali’i, he’s trending down a similar path to both Garner and Sorensen as coach Ivan Cleary figures out just how to use him best.
Already this year, Papali’i has played three games at starting prop and three games off the bench as an edge forward – a role he knows very well after starring with the Eels in the backrow in 2021 and 2022.
Speaking with the Weekender on Tuesday, Papali’i said his time at the Panthers so far has been a work in progress.
“Being part of the team is a first step for me and just trying to find my role in the team,” the 26-year-old said.
“I’m prepared to do anything, really. Just week by week, see what coach has in mind.”
With Papali’i playing multiple positions to start the year already, he said it’s been very helpful that Cleary tips him up at the start of each week as to where he’ll be playing that weekend.
“He gives me the heads up pretty early, he doesn’t tell me the last minute as to what’s going on,” Papali’i revealed.
“This allows me to get a lot of preparation in throughout the week and come game day, it’s part of the routine.”
Last weekend in Penrith’s monster 40-12 win over the Sydney Roosters, the Kiwi international enjoyed his best game as a Panther. Not only did he score his first try in Penrith colours, but he racked up 120 running metres off the bench in what was a major confidence boosting performance.
Papali’i said it was a “good feeling” to get his first try for the club and to feel the love from his teammates afterwards.
“It was a good feeling and Blaize [Talagi] got one as well, so two debut tries for us,” he said proudly.
“I think I was pretty knackered when my teammates were coming over and celebrating, but I got to watch the game over and we talked about celebrating the little things and obviously scoring a try was pretty cool for not only myself but also the team.”
Penrith’s win last Saturday night at Allianz Stadium snapped an embarrassing five-game losing streak that had many pundits question if the defending Premiers could even play Finals at all this year.
Papali’i said the belief internally that the club could eventually turn it around was always there, but it was a “relief” to finally get the monkey off the back.
“It’s been a pretty tough month and a bit to start the season, but we’ve got the monkey off the back now, so we’re looking forward to building some momentum off that,” he said.
“The recent losing streak was a strange feeling. There’s so much success around this club but the season just didn’t start the way we thought it would. But the coaches and players kept doubling down on just staying connected as a team and understanding that we’re the only ones that can get ourselves out of it.
“We just had to keep digging our heels in and to get the result last week was a step in the right direction.”
Penrith will be aiming to continue their long climb up the standings when they face-off against the Manly Sea Eagles this Saturday night at CommBank Stadium.
It will be the first time this season both sides have clashed and they’ll be doing it on a very important occasion for the NRL.
“I’ve been part of a few big ANZAC games before at the Warriors, so I know how important it is for everyone,” Papali’i said.
“This morning we got to have a look at the ANZAC jerseys we’ll be wearing and they are pretty nice, I look forward to playing in those on Saturday.”
Nathan Taylor
Nathan Taylor is the Weekender's Deputy Editor and Senior Sports Writer. He also compiles the weekly Chatter on the Box TV column. Nathan is an award-winning journalist, who has worked at the Weekender for a decade.