Taniela Tupou reverberates like a thunder clap. The 28-year-old rugby union player’s effervescent energy was contagious. He’s making it a tough season on him right now with wildly up and down performances this year. Once renowned as “Tongan Thor” for his freakish talents as a schoolboy front-rower in New Zealand, Tupou regularly made teams look foolish. A new challenge lies ahead as he sits on the bench for the New South Wales Waratahs. As he prepares for the upcoming British & Irish Lions series in July and August, Tupou admits he might not secure a spot in the Australia squad.
To get closer to his brother, Tupou migrated to Australia. Since his first appearance against Scotland in 2017, he has played 58 tests for the Wallabies. This one deal helped him secure an incredibly lucrative Rugby Australia contract, reportedly worth A$1 million a year. With his current agreement running out at the end of the year, he’s understandably worried about what the future holds for him in the sport. He knows that in order to be signed to a new contract, doing so will rest on how well he returns to form.
Performance Struggles
It hasn’t been an easy season for Tupou. He’s failing to live up to his unique performances that made him famous. He acknowledges his own self-doubt. I’d really think it’s mental,” he continues. If the performance isn’t there, then I start to second-guess myself.
Tupou admits that his off-field struggles have contributed to loss of confidence on the field, something that deeply bothers him. Honestly, I’m floundering at the moment. I’m scared to take on tasks that I once was able to perform with confidence. For the people who have to smell it, he explained. The burden of lofty ambitions is breaking him down, affecting his state of mind while playing on the pitch.
In light of these challenges, Tupou remains focused on his immediate goal: “My focus now is just trying to play well for the Waratahs because at the moment I’m not performing.” He is ambitious to return to the national setup and is focusing on developing his game on and off the pitch.
Looking Ahead
So even with everything he struggles with now, Tupou has dreams for tomorrow. He intends to stick around under the Wallabies’ tent and play in the 2027 World Cup on home soil. Soon after he comes to the conclusion that with every bad performance he is heading further away from making the team for the Lions series. He confided in me very frankly, “Truthfully, I have zero shot at making that team.” Yet his performance this year has been pitiful.
It’s not hard to see why his commitment to overcoming adversity and returning to form is impressive, just like his willingness to try to find solutions. “I’m nervous to throw a pass. I don’t know what it is, but I hope I can find a solution,” he stated. This represents his commitment to not just himself, but to his teammates and fans.
Contract Considerations
Tupou’s new contract—one of the most expensive ententes in Australian rugby—depends on his production. With a salary equivalent to about $641,000 annually, he stands at a crossroads where his on-field abilities will determine his financial future in the sport.
It is the heart that drives him to overcome this difficult time. The Clive Churchill medallist knows he needs to keep working on his game for personal fulfilment and that’s the only way he’ll guarantee himself a place in Rugby Australia’s future plans.
Leave a Reply