Canberra Raiders' Josh Papalii a club great: Laurie Daley

Daley said Papalii's go-forward and second-phase football will be crucial for the Raiders to beat the Melbourne Storm at Wagga Wagga on Saturday.

Not to mention his defence against the Storm pack and hooker Harry Grant.

It will be Papalii's 244^th NRL game, drawing him level with Daley and equal third for senior games played for the Green Machine.

Just Raiders co-captain Jarrod Croker (291) and Jason Croker (318) will be ahead of the pair.

Papalii's won the Mal Meninga Medal four times as Canberra's best and fairest, while also playing 20 State of Origins for Queensland and 11 Tests for Australia.

Daley said he was one of the best props in the NRL and when he played well, the Raiders played well.

The three-time premiership star played alongside arguably the greatest prop of all time, Glenn Lazarus.

And he felt Papalii's name was up there with the likes of Lazarus in the club's history.

"As he's got older his motor's got better too - he tends to push out the big minutes and looks comfortable doing that," Daley said.

"He's a real enforcer of the team and a real leader. He goes about his business week-in, week-out.

"Not much changes for him - he knows what he does well - and that's the sign of a wonderful player.

"He's certainly up there [with the Raiders' best props]. His record suggests he's been a wonderful contributor to the club.

"When you're talking about guys that have had longevity and contributed to the club as much as he has - he'll go down as one of the club greats."

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While Daley said the Raiders had been patchy so far this season, he felt Papalii had been consistent.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart, who played with Daley in all three premierships, said Papalii, front row-partner Joe Tapine and five-eighth Jack Wighton needed the rest of the Green Machine to follow their lead.

Daley said Papalii would be important to get the Raiders on the front foot with ball in hand, but also defensively in controlling a Storm pack led by Jesse Bromwich and Nelson Asofa-Solomona. Plus a classy Grant operating out of dummy half.

While Canberra go into the game with different form to the Storm - they lost 25-6 to Manly, while Melbourne were coming off a 44-0 drubbing of Canterbury - Daley felt the Green Machine was the type of side that could trouble the NRL powerhouse.

He said their ability to shift the ball was the key - as opposed to sides that try to simply get in the grind with them. Melbourne are the masters of the grind.

"He's just got to take on that responsibility of making sure - one, he's carrying the ball forward and taking the team forward, and if he can create some second-phase play that'd be great," Daley said.

"And also just be tight defensively around the middle and try and put as much pressure on Harry Grant, or look after Harry Grant when he starts to run and make sure the big boppers don't get a roll on off the back of him and just try and defend strongly.

"If the Raiders can move the ball around and hang onto it - and complete highly - but test Melbourne, not just hang on to the ball and kick and try and work them through field position ... if they're prepared to chance their arm a little bit they can find some success there."

NRL ROUND FIVE

Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Melbourne Storm at Wagga Wagga, 3pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Matt Timoko, 4. Semi Valemei, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Brad Schneider, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Tom Starling, 10. Joe Tapine, 11. Hudson Young, 12. Corey Harawira-Naera, 13. Elliott Whitehead (c). Interchange: 14. Matt Frawley, 15. Emre Guler, 16. Adam Elliott, 17. Corey Horsburgh. Reserves: 18. Xavier Savage, 19. Ryan Sutton, 20. James Schiller, 21. Harry Rushton, 22. Jarrod Croker, 23. Trey Mooney, 24. Peter Hola.

Storm squad: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen, 2. Nick Meaney, 3. Reimis Smith, 4. Justin Olam, 5. Xavier Coates, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Harry Grant, 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 11. Felise Kaufusi, 12. Kenny Bromwich, 13. Josh King. Interchange: 14. Brandon Smith, 15. Alec MacDonald, 16. Trent Loiero, 17. Tepai Moeroa. Reserves: 18. Tyran Wishart, 19. Chris Lewis, 20. Marion Seve, 21. Jayden Nikorima, 22. Jordan Grant, 23. William Warbrick, 24. Sualauvi Faalogo.

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