CANBERRA - Canberra captain David Shillington says youngster Josh Papalii doesn't need any advice on how to handle his new status as NRL hit-man and describes the 20-year-old wrecking ball is an inspiration for the Raiders.
After outgunning the best in the business in Paul Gallen last week, Papalii is sizing up South Sydney monster Dave Taylor in Saturday's do-or-die NRL semi-final against the Rabbitohs in Sydney.
Skipper Shillington says the 20-year-old second rower was an inspiration to his teammates in their elimination final victory over Cronulla, launching a successful demolition job on the Sharks skipper, who resorted to griping with the refs over his treatment. Against the Rabbitohs tomorrow the task will be big again, but Shillington believes his softly spoken teammate showed last weekend that he knows what it takes to win a one-on-one battle.
Papalii is already drawing comparisons with Canberra and New Zealand great Ruben Wiki, but Shillington isn't concerned the Auckland-born second rower will be affected by the hype.
"He probably doesn't need words of encouragement anymore, Joshy," Shillington said.
"I found him inspirational out there.
"He challenged the opposition and got the better of them. I know he'll get a lot of belief and confidence out of that."