Rising star Quinn Tupaea is the missing piece for Super Rugby's most exciting backline
While the popularity and exposure of the Mitre 10 Cup may have experienced a seismic shift in recent years, the competition remains a vital proving ground for emerging players and can act as a crystal ball when it comes to identifying the next wave of talent.
In special cases, the identification of a future star doesn’t require such clairvoyance. Take one look at Waikato centre Quinn Tupaea and it’s clear that he is destined to make an impact on the field for years to come.
Tupaea has emerged from an impressive crop of rookies and helped take Waikato to the top of the Championship log in his first Mitre 10 Cup season.
The 19-year-old has nailed down a starting spot in the Mooloo midfield in his first year out of high school, proving impossible to keep from the pitch and forging a formidable partnership with club stalwart Dwayne Sweeney as the side fight for promotion.
Like most things, it seems, the former New Zealand Schools captain has found stepping up to the Mitre 10 Cup easy.
“I’ve found the transition quite easy actually,” Tupaea told RugbyPass after Waikato’s win over Southland last week.”The boys have been really welcoming. Dwayne Sweeney’s taken me under his wing – kind of the apprentice and the pro there. It’s good learning from him.”
On the field, the hard-running Tupaea often looks like a man among boys, while the opposite is closer to the truth. A late call-up for the New Zealand U20 side earlier this year, Tupaea has started all but one of Waikato’s nine matches, cementing himself in the No. 13 jersey during the side’s current six-match winning streak – the best run in the competition.
Where Tupaea separates himself on the park is with ball in hand.
“I try to back my running game and barking the boys around the park,” Tupaea said. “Still a lot of work-ons. I’ve played a couple of good games.”
Through nine games the young midfielder has been one of the hardest players for the opposition to bring down. Tupaea is carving off an impressive 13 metres with each carry, has beaten 26 defenders and has broken the line 14 times. He has also scored six tries – including doubles against Bay of Plenty and Northland – and set up two more.
Waikato assistant coach and former All Blacks wing Roger Randle rates Tupaea’s powerful running game, but was sure to establish that his young star is far from one-dimensional.
“His strength is his running,” Randle said. “He’s got a great running game, good late feet, strong ball carrier and his passing game is improving really well.”
“He’s adding a kicking game, having the confidence to add some kicking in there as well to get that triple threat.”
While rampaging runs often steal the headlines, Tupaea’s willingness to expand his game and improve – as mentioned by Randle – stands out as one of his best traits, and one that will serve him extremely well long term.
“I think it’s just willing to learn, showing up every day, working hard,” Tupaea said. “Just being new, nailing the detail, watching film. I think that helps a lot with my game. Knowing the strengths of the other teams and nailing some details.”
Randle reiterated this in his own assessment.
“He’s doing really well,” Randle said. “The good thing about Quinn, he’s got a great attitude. He’s faced a bit of adversity this year, he missed out on New Zealand U20s – the initial team – but his attitude to try and improve is just outstanding.”
“He’ll become a professional player for a number of years because his attitude’s really good”.
Perhaps Tupaea’s best performance of the season came in the side’s week eight matchup against Northland. A 71-28 rout in Whangarei, Tupaea flashed several areas of his game as he racked up 151 run metres – somewhat inflated by an impressive 95-metre intercept try – made two clean breaks and scored two tries.
His work on the other side of the ball didn’t go unnoticed, as he led Waikato’s backline in the No. 12 jersey with 10 tackles, missing just one and winning two turnovers in the victory.
The next logical step for Tupaea is Super Rugby, where he may be able to solve the Chiefs’ midfield mystery. Randle sees him making an immediate impact wherever he ends up.
“He’s growing really well,” Randle said. “He should be involved with some Super [Rugby] team next year. Whoever that is, he’s ready to go straight away.”
Tupaea is hoping to get an opportunity with his hometown Chiefs, an opportunity he will grab with both hands should it present itself.
The Chiefs have a void in the midfield following the departures of incumbents Johnny Fa’auli and Charlie Ngatai, with All Black Anton Lienert-Brown searching for a new midfield running mate.
The eventual addition of Tupaea would give the Chiefs – already one of New Zealand’s most talented sides – one of the best young backlines in the competition.
They already field current All Blacks Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Damian McKenzie and the aforementioned Lienert-Brown, all of whom are still just 23 years old and possess a wealth of knowledge and experience that a young player like Tupaea could benefit from. Throw in the likes of Brad Weber and Solomon Alaimalo and you have one of the most exciting teams to watch in the near future.
Tupaea shapes as a long-term solution in a Chiefs midfield packed with potential, but don’t be shocked if he makes an impact at the next level sooner rather than later.
As Randle said, he’ll be ready to go straight away and won’t be afraid to run straight and hard through the rest of the competition.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope WRU cops a 12 month ban.
1 Go to commentsOuch. Pumped. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
30 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
27 Go to comments