Milestone man Joe wants a Papa makeover to regain form

As Joe Ofahengaue prepares for his 100th game for the Broncos against Canberra on Saturday it is opponent Josh Papalii who he aims to emulate.

By his own admission, the Tongan international and Maroons representative has had an underwhelming season, which has included a two-week suspension for a shoulder charge and a two-week club-imposed suspension for an off-field indiscretion.

Two years ago Papalii was dropped by Ricky Stuart for poor form but bounced back to be voted the best front-rower in the game this year in the NRL Players Poll. It is a transformation Ofahengaue also wants to make.

"He is willing to play for his mates every week. That is what you see in big Paps," Ofahengaue said of his Maroons teammate.

"That is why I admire him and why his team wants to play around him. That is the kind of player I want to be and this year I haven’t been that player ... so to play against Paps this week is really special because I want to be like him.

"It has been a disappointing year for myself with my performances. I have to step it up. I have to get my role done better than I have been [over] the past eight weeks."

Ofahengaue said Tevita Pangai jnr's recent breach of NRL biosecurity rules, where he attended a barber shop opening on Saturday, was "very disappointing" given that the players had all been told on Friday night about the regulations in place.

To play against Paps is really special because I want to be like him

Joe Ofahengaue on Josh Papalii

"It is not just our club but the whole NRL [that suffers]. We are hurting but people make mistakes and you can only learn from them," he said.

"The pressure is going to be on us boys to keep doing the right thing and that gives us a friendly reminder that everyone out there is watching us. We don't want to be the ones to stop the NRL.

"We were told how strict it was, particularly after the Paul Vaughan and Wayne [Bennett] incidents. Peter Nolan reminded us. I can't speak for Tevita but he's let the club down and he knows that. He's just got to learn."

Ofahengaue said the players were coping without head coach Anthony Seibold who is in 14 days of isolation after attending to a family matter in Sydney following the loss to South Sydney. The team will be coach by Seibold's assistant Peter Gentle.

"Peter Gentle is doing an awesome job with us and we sent our love and support to Seibold," Ofahengaue said.

After the loss to the Rabbitohs, Brisbane prop Matt Lodge said he wished he had someone to look up to in the team. Ofahengaue, although just 24, said he personally needed to be such a player.

"I think some of us older boys have let down the younger boys and not stepped up. I take that on the chin," he said.

"Games-wise I am one of the most experienced here. We can't let Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan carry the team. We have to go with them."

Of his own milestone, Ofahengaue said he initially dreamed of playing one game for Brisbane.

"So to play one hundred here I am so grateful. Despite the past 18 months that we’ve had it is still an honour to be playing here at the Broncos," he said.