Joseph Tapine is slowly but surely developing into one of the most accomplished captains in the NRL. The tall prop was handed the reins this year by Ricky Stuart and has embraced the role as the Green Machine has charged into the top four. Tapine topped the tackle count for both teams in a tough, slogging game against the Warriors in awful conditions in Auckland. But more than that, he ensured his team kept its cool despite losing two men to the sin bin to finish with an invaluable two points.
Raiders captain Joseph Tapine has revealed he "got addicted to pokies" early in his NRL career, admitting it was the "harshest lesson" he had to endure. The 30-year-old has become one of the most respected players in the game in recent years, starring for Canberra at club level and for the Kiwis on the international stage. Tapine burst onto the scene over a decade ago with the Knights, before taking his talents down to the nation's capital and establishing himself as an elite front-rower. However, it wasn't all smooth sailing for the towering Tapine in his early days. In a candid chat on the latest edition of Nine's Marlee and Me, he explained how the footy "culture" was back in his formative days around gambling and alcohol. "The harshest lesson was probably that I got addicted to pokies," Tapine said. "I was living in a share house and one of the boys said 'let's go for dinner'. We go in this pokie room and like everyone's first time, just luck - I put a freaking $20 in and won big. "Three years later I was trying to have to shake that addiction. Pokies and a bit of drinking was big in the culture and that was pretty hard for me to shake. "Those things get you. I think athletes as well and we want that adrenaline kick and that's what it gives you. It took a while to get off it. "I didn't learn about finance or anything back home. I had to learn all of that on the go and Kirsten [wife] taught me a lot of that. After I met Kirsten, she gave me an ultimatum. "I think the move here helped, it was around that time when I had that drama at Newcastle. The change in environment really helped me." Tapine's comments come as the sport continues to raise awareness about similar issues, especially with players from as young as 17 now entering full-time NRL systems. The enforcer starred for Canberra in their round one win in Las Vegas, before copping a two-game suspension for a shoulder charge. He will return for the Raiders in round four against the struggling Cowboys.
LAS VEGAS: Joseph Tapine has vowed to continue to lead by example rather than with his mouth after his stunning captaincy debut in Canberra's win over the Warriors. Tapine was the most influential big man on the field in his team's shock 30-8 upset of the Wahs, making more metres than any other middle forward. For the rangy Kiwi, it was a dream start to his captaincy after being handed the job by Ricky Stuart over the summer following Englishman Elliott Whitehead's departure. "It was a huge game for the team being here in Vegas and I suppose it was a big game for me - my first as captain," Tapine told Wide World of Sports. "I am not a huge talker - I could probably speak a little more out there but I try to lead by example. "I was happy with how I went - the Warriors have a big pack and we knew they would try to out-muscle us. We stuck together well and came up with a good win. It's a once in a lifetime experience playing here so to win was a dream come true. "To have my family over here made it even more special." A two-game suspension for a shoulder charge somewhat dampened Tapine's mood - but not greatly. The win was a classic Stuart ambush in the week the bookies named the Raiders as wooden spoon favourites - but the veteran coach isn't getting carried away. "I'm so proud but it's just round one and we need to come back down after such an amazing week," the club legend said.
Joseph Tapine's barnstorming bursts up the middle paved the way for the Raiders' upset win over the Storm - and shape as the big danger to the Eels next weekend.Tapine stood like a colossus over the first half and it was largely his influence that gave the Raiders their 16-8 halftime lead.Fitter and stronger than at any stage of his career, the lanky middle forward played the first 51 minutes straight before a brief rest.He was back in the fray when the Raiders powered home in the final stages of the game and racked up an amazing 216 metres in the trenches.
