Cup to NRL graduate: Josiah Pahulu
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Josiah Pahulu’s Hostplus Cup coaches know he won’t look out of place when he dons a Gold Coast Titans jersey this Sunday.
The Ipswich junior – who this season has been able to return to his hometown team with the Jets – will make his NRL debut against the North Queensland Cowboys, coming off the bench in Townsville for the derby clash.
So far this season, Pahulu has played three Cup games with the Jets, as part of their new affiliation with the Titans.
And in each outing, the prop has impressed, including his efforts in Round 2 in helping Ipswich get their first win in over a year.
For Jets coach Ben Cross, it’s a sure sign that the former Springfield Panthers junior is ready for this moment.
“He handles the physicality,” Cross said of Pahulu.
“We were coming up against strong seasoned players in Hostplus Cup footy. He hasn’t looked out of place.
“He showed that against the strong (Brisbane) Tigers pack (in Round 3); he put in a strong performance against the highly experienced NRL pack with the Townsville Blackhawks (in Round 1).
“He looked like a seasoned Cup player.
“He’s a high-quality young man with attention to detail in his preparation and own game. It was only a matter of time.
“On Sunday, he just needs to do exactly what he’s been doing at all the levels. There’s a reason why he’s been selected and it’s not to do something he hasn’t done previously.”
As well as playing for Springfield, 19-year-old Pahulu also captained Ipswich State High School to an Allan Langer Cup victory as well as their first Queensland and national schoolboys titles.
He has played for Queensland Under 19s and made his Cup debut in 2023 with the Burleigh Bears, who were formerly associated with the Titans.
While he only played three matches last year after suffering a long-term injury, Bears coach Luke Burt said he was an asset to the club and it was always clear he was going to progress to the next level.
“His first couple of games for us were outstanding,” Burt said.
“He has a really, really good work ethic. He’s a really honest worker and he had a really big, strong, powerful carry.
“When he came off the bench for us, he had a real impact. Defensively he was very strong… he had a keenness to learn. He was a sponge.
“He’s a great young kid… it’s great to see him get that opportunity.”
Pahulu’s Jets teammates will be playing when the NRL game kicks off in Townsville, with Ipswich’s Round 4 clash against the Redcliffe Dolphins also on Sunday.
But Cross said he hopes that a lot of his team – plus the next generation of Ipswich players – can look at Pahulu and aspire to follow in his footsteps.
“It definitely does make us proud,” Cross said.
“It gives our program a little bit of credibility and shows that players that come through our systems can get to the NRL.
“His teammates contracted to the Jets… they can see he’s making his debut and they can learn off what he does on a weekly basis and they can replicate what he does to try to get to the next level themselves.”
