Raiders captain Joseph Tapine is leading more than just a rugby league side; he’s leading a cultural and personal evolution.
For the Kiwis prop, the NRL's Indigenous Round is a chance to honour the Aboriginal heritage of his wife, Kirsten, and their daughter, Ilua, and to reflect on the power of connection, both on and off the field.
“Personally, Indigenous Round is huge," Tapine told 94ddz.com.
"I represent that culture as much as mine, because it is my daughter’s culture and my wife’s culture, so it is huge for me to represent them, and I try to do that to the best of my ability.”
It is the duality of cultures, Māori and Aboriginal, that Tapine embraces wholeheartedly in his family and leadership.
Away from rugby league and his role in helping the Green Machine close in on their first minor premiership since 1994, Tapine and Kirsten are intent on raising their daughter within the strength of both roots.
“Like me and my wife talked about, we wanted our daughter to be embraced by both our beautiful cultures and for us to put that both in is a huge part of what we done before we fell pregnant. So, it is a huge thing for me and Kirsten.” Tapine said.
Ilua, aged two, is already a much-loved part of the Raiders family, and not just because her father is a club icon and one of the best forwards in the game.
“She loves it. I think every day she asks for the Raiders song at least three times," he said.
"She dances up to it and just having her around is huge for my game. She is a massive support, her and my wife."
Joe Tapine reflects on family, culture and his NRL journey
The Raiders' celebration of Indigenous Round, which this year has been expanded over two weeks, extends beyond the field.
The players banded together to watch Fox League’s documentary ‘Kulpiyam’ featuring Xavier Savage, which explored the deep roots of his Indigenous identity and journey through the NRL.
It was a moment that resonated powerfully with both Tapine and the team, including NSW Origin secondrower Hudson Young, who has Ukranian heritage, and English forward Morgan Smithies.
"We actually had a get together and watched the documentary together as a team. I think it was huge for Huddo and Morgs to go up and connect on a deeper level with Xavier," Tapine said.
"Connections make a better team, and I think that is our cornerstone for what we are trying to achieve this year.”
From the field: Joe Tapine
As the Raiders continue their 2025 campaign, they do so under guidance of a leader who sees football as more than just a game. For Joseph Tapine, it’s a platform to honour family, culture, and the bonds that build greatness.
And when the Raiders song plays for the third time in the Tapine household on any given day, it’s not just a toddler dancing with joy; it is a family, a culture, and a captain reminding us all of what really matters.
