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Wests Tigers enforcer Martin Taupau says he won't be changing his approach at all in 2015, despite being in a much different place to where he was 12 months ago.

After moving from the Canterbury Bulldogs to Wests Tigers at the end of 2013 in the search of regular first-grade action, Taupau quickly began to assert his dominance and prove his worth as one of the Club's most damaging forwards in 2014. He soon became a must-have every week, and was rewarded not long after with an international debut for New Zealand in May.

With that under his belt, Taupau continued to progress throughout the remainder of the season — ending the year as one of just two players to have played every first-grade game for the Club, and with a reputation as one of the most damaging ball-runners in the game.

Taupau then finished 2014 as part of the Kiwis' Four Nations-winning squad, thanks largely to a memorable 22-minute spell in the Final that made all sit up and take notice.

Suffice to say, with all of that behind him, the man they call "Kapow" is seemingly in a much different place heading into the start of 2015 than he was in 2014.

And yet, the 25-year-old is adamant that he won't be changing his approach this year.

Regardless of how his position and status in the game might have changed.

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"Every game for me is the same approach," he said.

"You've got to go in and do your job, and for me, I've got to be consistent in everything I do.

"There's no point talking about what a good year 2014 was if I don't follow that up this year.

"I'm just looking to do the hard yards again this year like I did last year."

After helping the Club to a 30-point win over the Gold Coast Titans last time they met at Cbus Super Stadium in 2014, Taupau said he was relishing the opportunity to take to the field once more and help get the side off to a similarly strong start this time around. 

"Heading to the Gold Coast isn't the easiest trip to make Round 1," he admitted, "but being a professional footballer, you've got to adjust and handle whatever change.

"Overall, we are looking forward to it and putting into practice all we've been taught.

"Hopefully there will be plenty of Members and fans supporting us up there on the Gold Coast, and then we'll go on the back of that into our first home game at Campbelltown Stadium."

 

Acknowledgement of Country

Wests Tigers respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.