Joseph Tapine

Joseph Tapine runs at the defensive line and something remarkable happens: where other forwards meet resistance, he finds acceleration. The Canberra Raiders’ lock-forward is one of the most dynamic middle forwards in the NRL, a Kiwi international whose athleticism defies the conventions of his position. His ability to generate post-contact metres, produce offloads in traffic, and maintain his intensity over extended minutes gives the Raiders a point of difference that no other forward pack in the competition can replicate. Tapine is a genuine game-changer, the kind of forward who single-handedly shifts momentum.

Career Statistics

Player Profile

Two hundred games and 28 tries speak to a career of sustained excellence in the toughest position on the field. Tapine’s post-contact metres, his offloading ability, and his capacity to play massive minutes at relentless intensity make him the cornerstone of the Raiders’ pack. In 2026, he continues to be the player around whom Canberra builds its forward structures, the dynamic Kiwi whose influence on a match extends far beyond the statistics sheet.

EC — Senior features writer, australiafootball.com