DONCASTER coach Richard Horne is confident returning Misi Taulapapa will soon find his feet in coaching.
The 43-year-old has plenty of varied experience as a player, including appearances for Samoa (three) and in the NRL (38) and four years at the Dons under long-serving team chief Horne.
Now New Zealand-born Taulapapa, who started out in the Auckland Rugby Union competition before switching codes to play for New Zealand Warriors and Cronulla Sharks, and has also had spells at Sheffield, Featherstone, Newcastle and this year Goole, has hung up his boots.
The Dons are bolstering their operations at all levels as they aim to progress further after two solid seasons in the old-style Championship.
Keen to mark the 75th anniversary of professional Rugby League in the city by mounting a challenge in the new merged second tier, Horne, who has been at the helm since 2017, is reshaping his squad, with scrum-half Cory Aston, as expected, joining up (on a two-year deal) after leaving Sheffield and hooker Connor Jones moving from Featherstone, also on terms to 2027.
He has also added Taulapapa to a backroom set-up already including his right-hand man Chris Plume, appointed in 2021 after working with both Leeds and Toronto.
Taulapapa’s job title is assistant coach and cultural lead – and Horne believes he has plenty to offer in both areas.
“We want to be a hardworking team and that is everything that Misi is all about,” he explained.
“He has been in our environment and understands the way we try to go about things and how we want to play.
“We are assembling a bigger squad and Misi will be a major part of us managing that and supporting Plumey and me.
“It should work well as Plumey is the same as Misi whereas I’m typically calmer, so it’s a good blend.”
Centre Brad Hey, pivot Connor Robinson and winger Luke Briscoe have extended their contracts to 2027 and second rower Luis Johnson to 2026.