Monday Buzz: Joe Tapine’s manager to seek extension at Raiders after All Stars masterclass
Last year Joe Tapine started just 11 games and his wife slammed the Raiders on social media. Now Tapine’s manager is preparing to phone Raiders boss Don Furner, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
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Player manager Jim Banaghan will pick up his phone on Monday morning at 9am to ring Canberra Raiders chief executive Don Furner.
The topic of conversation will be the future of Joe Tapine, the best player on the park in Saturday night’s Indigenous All Stars match at CommBank Stadium.
The performance shows the Kiwi can stand alongside the NRL’s most outstanding lock forwards – Cameron Murray, Isaah Yeo, Jason Taumalolo and Victor Radley – on skill and leadership.
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Last year the 27-year-old struggled. He started in only 11 games and played eight off the bench.
Even his wife Kirsten blew up, publicly slamming coach Ricky Stuart on social media for not picking her husband.
“You have an international player warming your bench for 50 minutes … Your interchanges are killing us!!!’’
This is where the Banaghan phone call is fascinating.
The social media comment would suggest Tapine is not happy in the national capital.
It turns out this is not the case, in fact the exact opposite.
The 27-year-old is contracted for another two seasons but can talk to rival clubs in November.
“Joseph has never ever expressed a desire to me that he wanted to leave,” Banaghan said.
“I actually want to talk to Donny about an extension.
“I get expressions of interest all the time from around the traps. They all ring and say ‘how’s he going, keep us in mind if he would like a change.’
“Kirsten has a great job in Canberra and Joseph is really happy there.”
Tapine made his biggest impression with his captaincy and leadership of the Maoris team.
It’s something even Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga mentioned to Banaghan as they were exchanging text messages during the game.
He embraced the responsibility and it lifted him to another level.
This could be huge for the Canberra Raiders with doubts about the long-term future of club legend Jarrod Croker who has undergone stem-cell surgery in the off-season in a desperate bid to save his career.
Tapine certainly wouldn’t be out of place with a ‘c’ next to his name.
The Indigenous All Stars was the most magnificent night for rugby league.
Combined TV ratings on Fox Sports and Channel 9 were up an extraordinary 48 percent on last year.
This game has now become more than just an exhibition.
And for those who still think February form means nothing, try telling Tapine.
He has launched himself into the season in the most spectacular fashion and given enormous hope to fans of the Canberra Green Machine.
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