Joe Tapine has been constructing to this second for years.
When he signed a four-year extension with the Canberra Raiders in 2022, the New Zealand enforcer turned down greater cash gives elsewhere to stick with the membership he loves.
On the time he stated he sooner or later hoped to turn into captain.
With departing skipper Elliott Whitehead suspended from Canberra’s season-ending conflict with St George Illawarra on Saturday, Tapine might be handed the captaincy.
The 30-year-old thinks he’s now prepared to carry on to it on a everlasting foundation.
“I have been taking the final couple years behind Elliott, studying bits and items from what he does as captain and placing it into my recreation, however I’ve nonetheless acquired loads to be taught,” Tapine stated.
“I will be very open-minded on my studying course of within the subsequent yr or two.”
The cell prop ahead has been one of many Raiders’ most constant gamers in recent times, successful the Meninga Medal for the membership’s finest participant two seasons operating. And he is a superb likelihood of successful it this yr as effectively.
However one side of his management he thinks nonetheless wants enhancing is the way in which he talks to referees.
Tapine was given a yellow card by referee Grant Atkins for dissent within the Raiders’ 46-24 loss to Manly in August after a disagreement over a sort out on halfback Jamal Fogarty.
“It is simply the competitiveness I believe, however I am going to have to alter a bit on that,” he stated.
That is one thing he can be taught from captain Whitehead, who is a continuing fixture within the ref’s earpiece.
One other senior member of the Canberra ahead pack who might be seeking to step up in Whitehead’s absence is Hudson Younger, additionally thought of a possible future captain.
He hit again at Sydney coach Trent Robinson, who accused Whitehead of a historical past of hip-drop tackles after a sort out on Roosters hooker Brandon Smith injured his knee and dominated him out of the remainder of the season.
“There’s issues within the recreation that you may’t management and typically accidents occur,” Younger stated.
“I do not assume Elliott’s a unclean participant in any respect. I believe he is most likely one of many hardest gamers I’ve seen play or play with.
“So yeah, I am not too certain the place that is come from. It appears you get suspended as soon as, and you then get labelled that.”