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Live sport on SN this weekend'I also deserve to be on the team': Tuaupiki opens up on selection frustration at Warriors
Stephen Foote •  May 1st, 2026 10:17 am
Taine Tuaupiki | Photo: Photosport
Warriors sparkplug Taine Tuaupiki has been one of the team's most consistent performers over the past three seasons, but that hasn't always translated to consistency in selection.
The Ngaruawahia product has been one of the victims of the team's backline depth, where Andrew Webster has tended to favour - when stocks are at their fullest - veteran Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad at his preferred position at fullback.
That's meant Tuaupiki has regularly had to swallow his pride to make way for his teammate, leaving some of his most exceptional performances unrewarded with selection the following weekend.
While the 26-year-old has been steadfast in his 'team first' mantra, he admits the situation has been taking its toll.
"It's hard," said Tuaupiki. "It's had its challenges over the past two or three years. I know I've played some good games and I've been dropped for them.
"Charnze is a world class player and I know he deserves to be in the team too, but there comes a time where I stand up for myself as well and I also deserve to be on the team. Honestly, it's headaches.
"It does suck, but it's part of rugby league. I'm sure there's a Taine Tuaupiki at every club that people would argue should be playing first grade but isn't."
Taine Tuaupiki | Photo: David Neilson/Photosport
Tuaupiki donned the No 1 jersey through the opening four rounds of the team's scorching start to their campaign, where they reeled off three straight wins out of the gate before dropping their home clash with the rejuvenated Tigers.
But once Nicoll-Klokstad had recovered from the hamstring injury suffered during pre-season, he immediately slotted back into the starting side, shifting Tuaupiki - excluding the defeat to the Sharks where Nicoll-Klokstad was used at centre - out of the gameday squad altogether.
At times, the frustrations of his circumstances have boiled over in some frank discussions with coach Andrew Webster, Tuaupiki confesses.
"They're hard. There's a fine line. I have probably crossed it sometimes, but I'm pretty good," he said.Â
"(Webster's) really good at understanding the moment and the player. He's just quite open, too, and honest, which I feel like if you're a coach, you need to be. If you're a good coach, as players, all we want is honesty.Â
"Sometimes, literally, it is what it is. That's what's coming out of the chats and it's cool… it is a part of team sport."
And while the sun has been shining, Tuaupiki has been making hay.
With Nicoll-Klokstad absent due to a neck injury for the past three weeks, he's stepped to the fore with some of his best outings of the season to date.
Tuaupiki raised his bar to its highest level yet to date this season in the capital last weekend, where he broke his try-scoring duck with one of the most decisive scores of the year - helping clinch his team's razor-close win over the Dolphins and the full complement of Dally M points.
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Named to start at fullback as Nicoll-Klokstad nurses his neck injury, both Tuaupiki and the team will be looking to carry that momentum into their showdown with the Eels in Parramatta on Saturday.
The hosts occupy a vastly different space on the NRL ladder than the second-placed Warriors, who have the opportunity to cash in - with their first bye of the year looming in Round 10 - on a 'four-point' fortnight.
And Tuapiki says the message has been clear - nobody wants to spending their week off with the bitter taste of defeat harshing their vibe.
"(Co-captain James Fisher-Harris) just smashed it into us that we want to be happy this bye round.Â
"We want to go home and relax, not be upset. We just want to send the day, whatever it takes to get this one last win, and then get the couple of days off, relax and reconnect.
"We just want to send it, bro."
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