Burleigh Bears star Taine Tuaupiki pays tribute to pair at the heart of his resurgence

As he prepares to embark on his biggest career move yet, Taine Tuaupiki leaves the Gold Coast with a piece of silverware in his cabinet. Find out the duo who has credited for his ascent here >>

As he prepares to embark on his biggest career move yet, Burleigh fullback Taine Tuaupiki leaves the Gold Coast with a piece of silverware in his cabinet.

The 22-year-old was awarded the Petero Civoniceva Medal for the Queensland Cup’s player of the year having dominated the year for the Bears as they fell short of glory in the preliminary finals.

With 14 tries, 22 try assists, 25 linebreaks and 105 tackle busts to his credit, Tuaupiki earned himself a development deal with the New Zealand Warriors to keep his NRL dream alive.

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Speaking with QRL after receiving the medal, Tuaupiki declared a first-grade debut was firmly on his radar in 2023 and credited former Burleigh captain Jamal Fogarty for getting his own career back on track.

And while he said it was bittersweet to be leaving Pizzey Park behind, he paid special tribute to teammate Sam Coster for getting him to this point.

Taine Tuaupiki in action for the Burleigh Bears. Picture: Vanessa Hafner/QRL

“It’s pretty surreal, when Jamal won this in 2019 that was when I found out what it was. I took footy seriously, but probably not as serious as other 19 or 18-year-olds would take it,” Tuaupiki said.

“When I found out that Jamal won that I was so happy for him and just to be in the shoes he was in three years ago I’m pretty speechless.

“Burleigh’s been home for the past five years and I couldn’t speak high enough about the club. Me moving on for next season is pretty emotional.

“Coster is a big one, he got me a job with him doing carpentry at the beginning of the year and honestly that job I will thank that job for me being in the position I’m in today.

“They let me chase my dreams and knew work was second, and they were happy to do that and Coster was massive for me.”

Tuaupiki was joined in the 2022 Queensland Cup team of the year by teammates Alofiana Khan-Pereira (wing), Guy Hamilton (halfback), Josh Rogers (five-eighth) and Coster (lock).

Point scoring machine reveals how NRL hero is inspiring push to top

— September 19

Drawing on a former club skipper who went from Queensland Cup slugger to NRL finals contender, Josh Rogers has declared his dreams of reaching the top of the game were not over yet.

The Burleigh five-eighth has been in career best form for the past two campaigns, turning in another strong effort in his side’s 28-16 preliminary final defeat to Redcliffe on Saturday.

In a losing cause, the former Titans under-20s pivot would go on to set up a try, kick a 40/20 which led to another four-pointer and run for a team high 126m.

At 26, Rogers is the same age as when Canberra Raider halfback Jamal Fogarty earned his shot at first-grade redemption with the Gold Coast Titans.

Fogarty would go on to captain the Glitter Strip club on the back of his QCup title with the Bears, before moving to the nation’s capital and spearheading their charge to the semi-finals.

Josh Rogers kicks for goal for the Burleigh Bears. Picture: Jason O’Brien/QRL

Having been called into the Titans fold last pre-season for a taste of the elite level, Rogers inched his way closer to impressing the right judges as he fights for his own shot.

Given he has been largely unencumbered by injuries in recent years — amassing 41 Bears appearances following the competition’s Covid-enforced cancellation in 2020 — he said Fogarty had showed to him that time was still very much on his side.

“Definitely the goal is to try and play NRL, so I’m using Jamal as sort of like someone I’m trying to follow in the way he played Cup for ages and then was able to get a look in by an NRL team,” Rogers said.

“Now he’s where he is, and I know that there’s the opportunity to do that as well. Age is just a number with footy, so I’d definitely like to still play NRL somewhere.

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“I’ve found my feet pretty good this year, the confidence is extremely high and it helps having the team around me.

“It’s been pretty consistent as well (the team we’ve had) so it’s definitely helped me be able to play consistently and at a high level.”

Burleigh’s start to their Dolphins loss could hardly have been any crazier, losing Api Noema-Matenga to the sin bin for dangerous contact only to score the opening two tries through fullback Taine Tuaupiki and halfback Guy Hamilton.

However from there Redcliffe would go on the charge, even at one stage playing with 11 players against the Bears 12 as Trai Fuller, Liam Hampson and Pat Politoni were all sent for 10 minutes in quick succession.

Josh Rogers in action.

While a gut-wrenching way for the Burleigh campaign to end, Rogers’ spine combination with Hamilton and Tuaupiki clicked into gear throughout the year to cement the minor premiership.

Rogers said his time spent at Titans HQ had ignited his collaboration with his young gun custodian, and instilled renewed belief that his NRL goal was not done with yet.

Whether a first-grade club calls his number remains to be seen, but his partnership with Hamilton next year could also be what makes his form too hard to ignore for long.

“Me and Taine were with the Titans and trained with them the whole time (in the pre-season). We got the combo there and then with Hamo we played all of last year together so our combo took off after a couple of games together,” Rogers said.

“It (Titans training) was a lot different level going in every day to train, but some of those drills were the same and a lot of the boys I played 20s with were still there in the pre-season.

“I reckon it definitely helped me, more in the confidence side of things. Coming from training there every day and coming back to Burleigh I felt really confident with what I was doing.”

Revealed: Quartet’s crazy numbers behind premiership charge

— September 15

There have been some crazy stats churned out by the stars of the Burleigh Bears, and fullback Taine Tuaupiki believes their exploits could be the catalyst for a series of career turning points.

Having dominated the Gold Coast’s A-grade campaign last year, the 22-year-old has been a revelation in his maiden state league campaign, firming as a potential front runner for the Petero Civoniceva Medal.

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With 13 tries, 22 try assists, 23 linebreaks — the most in the competition — 23 linebreak assists and 101 tackle busts to his credit, Tuaupiki announced himself as a feel good story of 2022 by earning a development deal at the New Zealand Warriors for the 2023 NRL season.

However heading into the Bears’ preliminary final battle with Redcliffe on Saturday, he is not the lone man making an impact in the maroon and white jumper.

Five-eighth Josh Rogers has gone from strength to strength since his stint with the Gold Coast Titans last pre-season, topping the QCup for points (246), goals (97) and linebreak assists (24).

His partner in crime, halfback Guy Hamilton, also leads the way in try assists (27) and only Tuaupiki has made more runs than his 283 — a rare feat in a position so often tasked with organising the side and steering the ship.

Tuaupiki said that for all the plaudits he had received throughout the season, it never would have been possible if not for his halves creating the opportunities.

That cohesion will prove crucial when they take on the Dolphins for a spot in the grand final.

“It’s mostly my two halves, Josh and Guy, I reckon with their seasons we’ve played as well as each other, and I think that’s what sort of helped take my game to that level that I wanted to go to,” Tuaupiki said.

“Especially Guy Hamilton, just with the off the cuff footy. I don’t know, we click really well and understand each other and I really enjoy playing with them.

“I honestly get a of for credit for finishing off the tries, but if you look at 85 per cent of the good stuff you could credit Hamo and Josh Rogers just as much, if not more.”

Guy Hamilton in action for the Burleigh Bears. Picture: Jason O’Brien/QRL

For all the figures the spine trio have mustered, perhaps the most eye-catching has been from a Titans rookie who seems destined for an NRL berth in 2023.

Alofiana Khan-Pereira will, barring a miracle, finish the year as the competition’s leading try scorer, having crossed 25 times in just 18 appearances.

While at times his defence has lapsed, missing 32.7 per cent of his tackle attempts, what cannot be questioned is his x-factor potential.

Clocked at running around 36km/hr, the 20-year-old’s speed was on show last week against the Capras when he ran in a hat-trick — each try coming from within his own half.

Having come through the Gold Coast pathways together, Tuaupiki has forged a formidable one-two punch with the young tearaway and said their connection ensured whenever there was a hint of a chance on offer, the instincts took over and the speed demon was given the license to cut loose.

He declared it very easily could have been Khan-Pereira making his first-grade debut when Titans flyer Jojo Fifita landed on the scene in Round 15, and that an opportunity of his own was on the horizon.

Alofiana Khan-Pereira scoring. Picture by Richard Gosling

“I’m pretty conscience about having that speed outside me if I can see half a gap. I’m lucky to have played A-grade and 20s with him, so I’ve been inside him for maybe three years now,” Tuaupiki said.

“When you see that half a chance you tuck it and go yourself, but I’m pretty lucky – I give him the ball and he’s a freak of nature and does things that makes me look good.

“I honestly think it was neck and neck between him and Jojo. Jojo obviously got it and has excelled which is what you want to see, but I also think Lofi could match that.”

Burleigh and Redcliffe will kick off from 3.10pm at Moreton Daily Stadium.