“A long journey”: Elliott reflects on 100 games in Cup
When Sam Elliott looks back over his career and the 99 games he has played in the Hostplus Cup so far, there are two standout moments for him.
One is obviously the ultimate high in winning the 2024 Cup premiership with the Norths Devils and then going on to claim a historic NRL State Championship victory too.
The other however is a little more understated but a moment that changed his career for the better – it was his first season with the Redcliffe Dolphins.
At the end of 2021, the now 28-year-old decided to hang up the boots. Coming out of a tough season with the Brisbane Tigers, he was afraid of losing his love of the game he had played since he was five.
But then, with a little persuasion, he was brought back to rugby league via the Dolphins and as he approaches his 100th Cup game today – fittingly in the red and white – he knows how much that decision changed the trajectory of his career.
“Coming to Redcliffe in the first place was a big step,” Elliott said.
“After 2021, I said I had retired… when you’re young, you can play the victim card a little bit. You work hard and it feels like nothing comes to you but you’re not mature enough to know time takes care of these things.
“I had started fulltime work at Wavell (State School) and had rugby league at school every day and then to go to training… I didn’t feel like I was learning too much where I was at the time. We went through a rough patch that year so it wasn’t a good headspace.
“I’d been playing footy since I was five or six. I had that thought that I don’t want to keep playing and hate the game I’ve loved my whole life. When you step back, you realise how much you miss it.
“I was working with (former Dolphin) Mick Roberts (in 2022) and they had lost a couple of players in pre-season and he asked me if I wanted to have a run.
“Having Mick Roberts getting me back to playing footy again, it kickstarted that process and I’ve had fairly successful years since then. You don’t look back.”
Elliott, who made his Cup debut in 2016 with the Souths Logan Magpies, played 11 games in that 2022 season with the Dolphins, including in the grand final.
While Redcliffe lost that day and Elliott eventually moved into three years with Norths, he has never forgotten what the Dolphins gave him.
It was one of the main reasons he returned to the club for 2026 and, ultimately, his milestone match.
While the elevation of his former Devils mentor Dave Elliott to the head coaching role this year also helps, Elliott has a few things he wants to tick off the to-do list with the Dolphins.
“I just think in 2022, the grand final was a game that Redcliffe lost as a team,” he said.
“We lost it ourselves. It’s a hard pill to swallow. In ‘22, I was in and out and lucky to be there but I feel like there’s unfinished business.
“I have a really good relationship with Dave. I really enjoyed working under him (at Norths) and understood what he’s about.
“He has a way of pushing me to find something in everything we do. It’s an opportunity to take everything I’ve learnt and come back and be a leader in a young squad.”
Elliott – who is sometimes referred to as “Dad” among the squad – is part of the leadership group and will be key in helping the Dolphins today go for a third consecutive win as they take on the PNG Hunters at Kayo Stadium.
As someone who likes to lead by example, he said he tries to give his all in everything he does – from a gym session to the training paddock to game day.
“I just want to be as prepared as I possibly can be,” he said.
“When you play at a high level, you have to have that desire to push further, desire to be better. When we go there, it’s a luxury to be there. If I’m there, I’m going to be all in.
“I’m not one to dip my toe in, I’d rather be all in or not be in at all. I want to make everything count as best as I can.
“I try and lead by example and there’s some really promising young players at the club and some that haven’t even got much of a taste yet at Cup level.
“During the pre-season I was impressed with the whole squad, including BRL players. It’s a different vibe to what it was in my previous years where everyone was experienced at my level.
“They’re keeping me young and keeping me on toes.”
For Elliott, there are a number of people who have helped him get to this point – almost too many to name.
But the likes of Dave Elliott, Scott Murray, Mick Roberts and Rohan Smith are just a few of the coaches who he credits for his development while players like Kierran Moseley, Sheldon Pitama, Trai Fuller and Jarrett Boland are among some of his biggest supports.
And of course, there’s his family, especially his wife.
As he approaches game 100, he knows he couldn’t have managed all the ups and downs without them.
“I’m proud for myself but it’s been a long journey,” he said.
“I debuted back in 2016 out of 20s. I had a couple of years away from Cup level playing in the BRL and there was the Covid year.
“I’ve been in and out because of quality players coming back from NRL systems and that sort of thing. I’m proud I stuck it out and got this far.”
The Redcliffe Dolphins will kick off at 6pm this evening against the PNG Hunters at Kayo Stadium.