For all of the talk of Josh Papalii being spirited into the Queensland team as a "Klemmer Killer", the real fireworks are likely to come from the resumption of his battle with NSW skipper Paul Gallen.
It was three years ago, in a fiery game at Canberra Stadium, that Gallen accused Papalii of a "dog shot". It was one of several incidents, including an alleged headbutt from the Cronulla veteran, from which Papalii emerged victorious in one of the most spiteful personal finals encounters in recent memory.
There have even been suggestions that the rivalry could be settled in the ring, given Gallen's success moonlighting as a boxer. Papalii can also throw the leather after being shown the ropes by his cousin Alex Leapai, who had an unsuccessful heavyweight world title bout against WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO champion Wladimir Klitschko.
Leapai believes Papalii could enjoy a successful boxing career, following the the lead of Gallen and the ever-growing number of footballers lacing up the gloves. However, the man dubbed Lionheart reckons Gallen's boxing experience would put him at an unfair advantage.
"He would go good with those guys but it would take time," Leapai said. "He's a talented kid, he could do both [sports]. Paul Gallen, in the boxing game, is a few fights ahead so that probably won't happen. I know Paul Gallen, he's a gentleman himself, and he wouldn't just call someone like Josh out. Josh would need to have a few fights for something like that to happen, he'd need to get the feeling of the game.
"The boxing game is totally different from football, one punch changes the ending to the story. Paul Gallen at the moment is too experienced."
Leapai's trainer, Noel Thornbury added: "[Papalii] is a strong guy. If he wanted to apply himself to boxing, he'd be very successful at that too. He could do that, no problem."
The Maroons turned to Papalii to add aggression to their pack after it was steamrolled by the Blues in Melbourne.
Much of the focus in the lead-up to the decider has been about his clash with fellow interchange weapon David Klemmer, who unsettled Queensland with his fearless hits and hit-ups. The Raiders hitman did his best to play down the hyped encounter when pressed about it, but coach Mal Meninga's decision to bring him back into the fold is a clear sign the northerners don't want to be overpowered again.
Leapai, who laughed off suggestions Papalii dropped him in a sparring session as an urban myth – "The one thing you can't do is put the Lionheart down" – reckons there will be plenty of fireworks in what is shaping as the biggest Origin yet.
"I've got a feeling Josh will bring the beast out again," Leapai said.
