Papalii to play in GF after all-clear from review committee

The Raiders breathed a big sigh of relief with news on Saturday morning that powerhouse prop Josh Papalii is free to play in the grand final.

Papalii was placed on report for a tackle on Souths fullback Adam Doueihi in Canberra's 16-10 win in the preliminary final on Friday night, but he wasn't charged by the Match Review Committee and will line up for the Raiders' first grand final appearance in 25 years.

In added good news for the club, Papalii's front-row teammate Sia Soliola was charged with a grade one careless high tackle on Sam Burgess but the charge only amounts to a $1150 fine, leaving him free to play in next Sunday's premiership decider.

Papalii said post-game that he hit the ball first before collecting Doueihi high and  was confident of being cleared.

He was nothing short of immense in the win, scoring a barnstorming match-winning try when his side was reduced to 12 men and running for a game-high 179 metres.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart was always confident his representative prop would not have a case to answer at the judiciary.

"I don't know if Papa did actually connect with his head," Stuart said after fulltime.

" ... You've got to understand he's got a wonderful technique ... He's hit the ball."

The NRL is also expected to investigate the head knock that saw co-captain Josh Hodgson stumbling out of a tackle on Liam Knight but remain on the paddock to play a starring role in the first half.

Hodgson was seen to by Canberra's trainer on the field and footage of the incident was examined by both club and NRL doctors, but typically any player struggling to regain their feet is taken off for a full HIA.

The Raiders No.9 though was adamant after full-time that he had not felt any concussion effects from the heavy contact.

"My jaw was the main thing, head wise I was fine," Hodgson told NRL.com.

"It was one of those moments where things don’t look good when you look like you're stumbling a little bit, but when you've got a bit of a knock and you're running back you're not really thinking about what you're doing.

"You're more thinking about if I did my jaw.

"You can't get away with that stuff nowadays, there's so many cameras and doctors looking at things.

"I've had a couple of head knocks, and you know when you're right and when you're not. We know how dangerous it is with all the study that's been done to stay on when you're not right.

"I was good to go. I did all the tests and I was fine."

The Raiders also have injury concerns around centre Joey Leilua (calf) and five-eighth Jack Wighton (shoulder).

Leilua failed to finish the game and appears long odds for next Sunday's decider given he was struggling to walk from the field.

Wighton was unconcerned by his shoulder complaint after full-time, as was Josh Hodgson when it came to the elbow he appeared to injure in a try-saving tackle on Cody Walker.

"I did it just running down the sideline, just a bit of a burner," Wighton said in the sheds afterwards.

"I'll keep the ice and physio up on it and be right to go."