Raiders star Joe Tapine has revealed the secret to his success after finishing last year as one of the best players in the world.
Tapine stopped drinking and produced the best seasons of his career, culminating in a stellar World Cup campaign for New Zealand.
The 28-year-old’s form was so impressive in 2022 that several Canberra teammates, including front-rower partner Josh Papali’i, have also quit drinking ahead of this season.
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It comes as their teammate Jack Wighton was charged with several offences after his 30th birthday celebrations got “out of hand” in Canberra over the weekend.
Wighton was arrested alongside Kangaroos Latrell Mitchell at 3:45am on Sunday following what witnesses called play wrestling between the pair outside a nightclub.
Foxsports.com.au spoke to Tapine, Papali’i and Wighton last week – before the latter’s boozy brush with the law.
Tapine revealed there were several factors behind his career-best season, but emphasised quitting alcohol was the biggest.
“I’ve been trying to grow away from the field, especially with my leadership. Balancing doing off-field stuff and on-field stuff,” Tapine told foxsports.com.au.
“It really helps when you actually look after yourself away from footy – things like staying off the drink.
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“Last year I did most of the year, about seven months off the drink from after the Maori (All Stars) game (in February).
“(For this season) I actually stopped drinking in mid-December and I’ll stay off it for as long as I can. I’ve got a baby coming in April and I don’t want her to grow up around a lot of alcohol either.
“Obviously I had a few beers with the boys at the end of last season to celebrate our year, but at the end of last year I thought I might as well get off earlier.
“Winning a premiership is a huge goal for a lot of the boys and you have to make sacrifices away from the field to win comps so that’s what we’re doing this year.”
Papali’i was so impressed with Tapine’s 2022 form that after Christmas he also decided to give up alcohol.
“I’m trying it this year, I’ve done almost a month and I tell you what it’s one of the hardest challenges I’ve ever had but he (Tapine) is definitely helping me,” Papali’i said.
“A few of the other boys are off the piss now. I was sick of hangovers and waking up early, but it’s more giving my body every opportunity to be at its best.”
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Papali’i also pointed to the World Cup where Samoa was criticised for poor preparation after their shocking opening game loss to England.
But the group bounced back to shock the rugby league world and make the final where they lost to Australia.
“At the World Cup we started slow and came good towards the end,” he said.
“I just felt after that if I give my body and mind every opportunity to be at my best then it will also make Raiders a better place.”
Papali’i also praised Tapine’s growth off the field, while marvelling at the athleticism of “family man” Wighton who he lost to in the World Cup final.
“Taps has matured not only as a person but as a player, he’s definitely taken his leadership role very seriously,” Papali’i said.
“For someone who had a lot of injuries early on and just couldn’t really put a full season together, the season he had last year was one of the best I’ve ever seen by a front rower and it was awesome to be a part of.
Latrell Mitchell & Jack Wighton arrested | 00:45
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“Legs (Wighton) is just the ultimate athlete, he could eat pizza for the next eight weeks and still be as ripped as he is now.
“He’s brought back a sense of hunger to win, that’s what I’ve realised with Jacky legs, he’s come back with that winning culture.
“He’s a good family man we all love being around.”
Wighton’s latest run-in with the police is almost five years to the day since he assaulted several people on another boozy night out in the same Canberra nightclub precinct.
That led to a self-imposed ban from the Canberra CBD in 2018 and in 2019 the Raiders made the grand final, and in 2020 Wighton won the Dally M Medal.
“I’m feeling good, just had a little quad strain but I’m getting back on the field,” Wighton said last week.
“We’ve got a young group of lads and it’s very exciting, we’re going to see a lot of debuts, a lot of kids having to step up. Being an older player it’s always great to play with kids with that energy and watch them develop.
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“I respect every NRL player whether it’s just one game, but the difference between the good ones is consistency and it’s a hard job to do consistently.
“That’s one of my main things, to make grand finals everyone has to be consistent right across the park.”
Wighton believes Tapine has always been one of the best players in the world and last year was just the first time the public was treated to it weekly.
“He’s always been the best if not one of the best over the years but he did it week in week out last year, that’s the big difference,” Wighton said.
“He’s always had this in him for the last eight years, I’ve seen it, but last year he did it every single week. Every minute he was on the field he played to his potential and that was the difference.
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“He’s always been a freak and it really showed last year.”
Wighton was then asked about his personal goals this season and if he was looking to take on more of a leadership role in 2022.
“I just want to put my best foot forward to help those young kids and play consistent football,” he said.
“Consistently is the key, and making good combos and just helping the team drive towards winning.
“There’s always a leader here, there or anywhere, so it’s more about me putting some consistent games together.”
