'Copping it on the chin': Papalii out to make amends after ban

Josh Papalii's shoulder to the jaw of Canterbury's Tui Katoa put him out for three weeks, including Origin, but he's copped the ban "on the chin", so to speak, as he returns to the field this Saturday.

The Raiders international believes he paid a heavy price for the high contact crackdown which gained momentum in Magic Round but knows there is no point kicking stones about the three-game punishment which included the State of Origin series opener.

"I'm all good, I had a three-week holiday there," Papalii said.

"I got to spend more time with family, did a bit of running as well and got to watch footy from the outside.

"I am [refreshed], pretty pumped. Just a shame I can't play on Wednesday but it is what it is, that's footy, I have to learn how to adapt to the new rules and just get on with it."

On the tackle itself, Papalii said while he was surprised to be sent off rather than sin-binned, he understood head contact was illegal even before the crackdown and needed to keep the contact lower.

"We get taught to hit under the ball and not in the head, I just caught him a bit too square," he said.

"He was falling down and I was coming up and my shoulder made contact with the head. Which is the normal rules, you're not allowed to do that.

"Three weeks is the punishment I get. I copped it on the chin and just have to get on with it and looking forward to Saturday now.

"I think when you look back on the vision I was pretty shocked. I knew I was going to go for 10, I didn't know I was going to be sent off. I was very shocked. I've seen worse ones than mine, they're just penalties now.

"I think I was the example of that weekend and, like I said, I've moved on and hopefully no more three-week holidays."

While disappointed to have missed a chance to represent his state, Papalii said all the players picked fully deserved their spots.

"It's going to be hard but those boys that have been picked have been picked for a reason," he said.

"They've been doing their job and playing well and I've been in up and down kind of form this year.

"They deserve their spots. To be honest I'm just happy to be back on Saturday. I'll be cheering the boys on tomorrow.

"I just hope Jack [Wighton] goes well and I hope Queensland win."

His more immediate focus is helping the Green Machine to a much-needed win against the Broncos on Saturday.

"Any win right now will make this joint a bit happier and just a better place to come in on Monday," he said.

"A few wins on the trot will just help. The team we have is stacked, that's the frustrating bit, we're not playing to what we have here."