The previously-retired veteran representative prop answered coach Billy Slater's SOS call while his wife and newborn son were still in hospital, but was never likely to turn his back on his beloved Maroons.
Five tough carries for near-on 40m in his opening stint might not sound like a heap, but when you consider the 33-year-old slept on a hospital chair for multiple nights in the lead-up to Wednesday night's decider, it wasn't a bad innings.
He returned for another 10 minutes in the second half of Queensland's 24-12 win to seal a 2-1 series victory.
"I missed the first couple of calls from Bill due to my son being in hospital and my wife as well with a few complications with the birth," Papali'i said.
"I wasn't going to come back but when I saw Bill's number pop up, I just said 'yes'.
"I knew the value of what I could bring to this footy team, that calmness, just being that calm head among the group."
Papali'i hadn't played Origin since 2022, instead focusing on his club football in Canberra's stellar campaign that's put them top of the NRL ladder.
His strong form, and the Maroons' need for a cool head in the middle prompted Slater's call for help.
"I was terrified that he was going to say 'sorry Bill, my days are done' but within a couple of words, I felt he still had that fire in him," Slater said.
"His wife Sepa had a baby boy the week before, and there were a few complications, and the big fella slept in a hospital chair for a couple of nights, his priority was being a dad and making sure his family was okay.
"That first 15 minutes, he just laid that platform for the rewards to come."
Slater said Papali'i's fellow Samoan-heritage middle Tino Fa'asuamaleaui had been following him around "like a puppy dog" all through camp - a claim the Gold Coast captain was only too happy to confirm.
"I've been hanging off his hip, just soaking in the time with him and just enjoying it, because it is his last camp," Fa'asuamaleaui told AAP.
"He's a legend and he's my idol to be honest, since coming in here and in this arena back in 2020 .... I'm just so glad we got to send him off with another win."
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