Joe Tapine has a childhood spent running hills that doubled as backdrops to the Lord of the Rings trilogy to thank for the motor that has several NRL rivals set to pursue the Canberra prop.
Tapine’s career-best form has helped the Raiders to a recent 8-1 record and a semi-final clash with Parramatta’s representative front-rowers Junior Paulo and Reagan Campbell-Gillard on Friday night.
Along the way Tapine has been awarded the Mal Meninga Medal and billing as the world’s No.1 prop,...