Bulldogs forward Sitili Tupouniua has found the silver lining from a frustrating season as he prepares to spearhead his club's charge to the finals.
The veteran arrived at Belmore at the start of the year tasked with providing leadership and depth to a young forward pack looking to match it with the competition's heavyweights.
After a promising start during the opening two months of the season, Tupouniua's campaign was sidetracked by injuries and suspension.
Sitili Tupouniua 1st Try
The 28-year-old has hit the ground running since returning to the field a fortnight ago and is determined to play a key role in the Bulldog's quest for their first title in 21 years.
"It's been a weird year," Tupouniua told 94ddz.com. "I played a couple of games and then suspensions and injuries hit. I appreciate the 'Dogs and the way they've taken care of me to get me back on the field. I feel strong, fitter and more confident.
"It's a younger pack here than it was at the Roosters. I came here looking to lead with my actions and the way I play. It's hard being off the field but I'm just trying to bring the energy and do what's best for the team.
"I've missed a lot of game time so I'm pretty fresh compared to a lot of other boys. I'm trying to bring the energy off the bench and play some good footy."
Sitili Tupouniua Highlights vs. Brisbane Broncos
Tupouniua joined Canterbury after seven years at the Roosters, where he played 106 games and starred alongside Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Lindsay Collins.
This experience played a key role in Cameron Ciraldo's bid to lure him to Belmore, with the 28-year-old signed to mentor a promising crop of young forwards.
Sam Hughes, Daniel Suluka-Fifita, Harry Hayes and Jack Todd are all in the early days of their careers, while Max King, Josh Curran and Jaeman Salmon still have their best years ahead.
The early signs were promising, with Tupouniua one of the best bench forwards in the competition in the opening two months of the season.
Tupouniua irons out Rudolph
A five-game suspension, however, triggered a frustrating run and the forward missed a further seven weeks with a hamstring injury. The Round 20 comeback lasted just one game before he reinjured the muscle and spent another month on the sidelines.
Tupouniua's impact since returning to the field hasn't gone unnoticed, with Ciraldo praising the forward's ability to swing a game in his team's favour.
The forward ran for 91 metres in just 33 minutes in the Round 25 loss to the Storm before he produced 137 metres, five tackle breaks and a linebreak in last week's win over Penrith.
He is looking to compile a similar performance in Saturday's clash with the Sharks at Accor Stadium. Canterbury are effectively locked into third place on the ladder, while Cronulla could be playing for a top-four spot, depending on how other results go earlier in the weekend.
Ciraldo is set to resist the urge to rest players and hopes Tupouniua will benefit from valuable playing time before a showdown with the Storm in the opening week of the finals.
Match: Bulldogs v Sharks
Round 27 -
home Team
Bulldogs
3rd Position
away Team
Sharks
5th Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
"He's been brilliant for us every time he's played," Ciraldo said. "There was a bit of chat around that we weren't playing as well through the middle part of the year as we were at the start. I reckon Sitili's a big part of that.
"The impact he gives us off the bench, when he and Kurt Mann come on together has been really powerful for our team. You've seen the last two weeks what he adds to our team so it's good to have him back."
While currently focused on the Bulldogs finals quest, Tupouniua also has one eye on the upcoming Pacific Championships.
The forward was a key member of Tonga's 2024 campaign, with the squad looking to go one step further and lift the trophy this year.
Tonga will open their tournament with a Suncorp Stadium showdown against Samoa on October 26 before playing New Zealand at Eden Park the following week. The final will be played at CommBank Stadium on November 9.
What it means: Pacific Championships
Tupouniua will see how his body handles the next month before fully committing to the campaign but said it would be an honour to be involved.
"We'll see what happens at the back end of the season," Tupouniua said. "With the year I've had, I might need to have a break. I want to have a solid pre-season.
"It's good for the Tonga team to have a lot of options to choose from. There's that healthy competition with the boys trying to get a spot in the team."
