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Broncos winger goes from NRL limbo to grand final
Jasper Bruce, AAP • October 2nd, 2025 2:24 pm
Josiah Karapani is having a ball at the Broncos after a bumpy start to his career in Australia | Photo: Jono Searle/AAP
Brisbane winger Josiah Karapani thought his NRL career was over before it had begun when he was cut loose by South Sydney for disciplinary reasons.
Now, after having to be convinced the lifeline the Broncos were offering him was real, the 23-year-old is 80 minutes away from premiership glory.
Auckland-born Karapani was scouted by the Warriors as a teenager before joining the Rabbitohs' junior system in 2021.
But things struggled to click for Karapani at Souths, who cut the uncapped outside back after he missed a video review session.
"My headspace wasn't really right at the time," Karapani said.
"I kind of just felt like I was doing everything on my own.
Josiah Karapani (C) celebrates a try with Gehamat Shibasaki and Reece Walsh | Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP
"There's a massive difference coming here. The culture and everyone and the boys, they're genuine as well. It's been helping me a lot."
Being shown the door at Redfern left Karapani's agent to call around the 16 other NRL clubs in search of an opportunity for the young Kiwi.
But Karapani feared no one would pick up the phone and that he'd blown his one chance at becoming a first-grader.
"It got to a point where I just didn't really care anymore," he said.
"I was just like, 'I think that's it'. I already had a crack at trying to make it to NRL. If that happens, then it happens.
"It's up to God too, what he does for my plans and stuff. But if he does give me a chance, then I'll take it and I won't take it for granted. That's a promise I made for myself."
Josiah Karapani finds the stripe at Suncorp Stadium | Photo: Jono Searle/AAP
It was genuinely unbelievable to Karapani that Brisbane, who had made that year's grand final, were keen to sign him to a train-and-trial deal for the 2024 pre-season.
"I was shocked that Broncos wanted me to come in. I was like, 'There's no way'," he said.
"They just made a grand final, like...Holy. They don't want me."
But Karapani parlayed that lifeline into a full-time NRL deal for 2024 and eventually a contract extension that ties him to the club through 2027.
In a breakout 2025 season, Karapani has excelled with 11 tries from 12 games and 167 run metres on average, keeping Selwyn Cobbo and Jesse Arthars out of the side in the process.
"I know it's not an easy club to come to and make a spot in the team," Karapani said of his form.
"You've really got to work hard and the other stuff like that, get the other things right as well that I didn't get right when I was in Sydney."
Karapani is now preparing to line up on the left wing against Melbourne in Sunday's grand final - just the 22nd game of his career.
It's fitting reward for two years of hard work.
But Karapani still feels as though he's the one who should be repaying the Broncos, not the other way around.
"They're the ones that brought me in and gave me a second chance. I felt like I had to give back and I feel like that's what I'm doing," he said.
Tune into Sport Nation for live commentary of the NRL Grand Final, thanks to SEN, from 8pm Sunday.
