Coster reaches Cup game 150: 'It's my happy place'

There is no part of Sam Coster’s 149 Hostplus Cup games with Burleigh Bears that has felt like a “challenge or a chore”.

The Bears lock – known for his high workload and reliability on the park – will this Saturday play his 150th Cup, marking the milestone as a one-club man against the Ipswich Jets on home turf at UAA Park.

Following in the footsteps of teammates Hayden Schwass, Sami Sauiluma, Pat Politoni and Guy Hamilton – all of whom hit 150 Cup games this year – it’s not hard to see why Coster has played so many games.

“I just love it,” he said.

“Nothing since I have been here has been a challenge or felt like a chore. I’m 31 and I still love going to training.

“The biggest challenge was the COVID-19 year when we didn’t get to play.

“Pretty much outside of family and mates, rugby league is my passion. I love it. I’ve played it since I was five-years-old.

“It’s my happy place. It’s something I’m really passionate about and I love forming relationships with people and working towards a common goal.

“I enjoy working hard and trying to improve as a player and a team. I find all of that really enjoyable.”

Coster arrived at the Bears in 2017, fresh off two seasons in the New Souths Wales Rugby League with Illawarra.

He viewed it as a short-term move but seven years later, he is still here with no plans to go anywhere else.

“When I first come up here, I wasn’t sure what the long-term plan was,” Coster said.

“I’ve pretty much ended up falling in love with the club and the people at it.

“It was everything from the top down - from (CEO Damian Driscoll) Drisco to the coaching staff at the time and all the way through to today.

“They’ve always been really good and supportive and put a lot of work into the playing group.

“It always seems to be a good group of lads, whether it’s the ones who have been here the whole way through or those that have rolled in for a couple of seasons or so.

“The club should be proud that they’ve created a culture where players like us feel happy and comfortable to stay at the one place and try to build on each year and improving on becoming better players and better people.

“The club is in a really good spot in terms of that.”

Coster’s debut was in Round 1 against the Redcliffe Dolphins. He remembers the heat of that March day and the slow start Burleigh had to their season, coming off the back of winning a premiership in 2016.

He also remembers the immediate support he had from his new teammates, particularly hooker Politoni.

Aside from his wife, Tayla, Politoni has been one of the most influential people on Coster’s Cup career.

“In terms of players, it’s definitely Patty,” Coster said.

“He just always believed in me to be the type of player I am and not be anyone else.

“He always had faith in me and backed me in and that meant a lot coming to a new club and trying to earn my stripes.

“Outside of that, Tay, the support of my wife, she’s really good. She’s been with me the majority of my Cup career and we’ve had kids for the back half.

“Her holding it down at home while I’ve worked a fulltime job and had part-time Cup, it can be pretty full on for her but she’s supportive no matter what.”

Coster and his wife Tayla have also welcomed two children over the course of his career – both at fairly significant times.

When he looks back, he views both weeks as the highlights of his time in Queensland.

“Obviously the 2019 grand final,” Coster said.

“That would definitely be No.1. That was a really cool week because my eldest daughter, Elkie, was born about four days before the game.

“To have my first child and win a grand final, that was a pretty cool week.

“Playing 100 games was another highlight and once again, Obie - my second child - was born two days before my 100 games, so that was really special.”

With the 2019 premiership still one he holds close to his heart, Coster knows he wants to taste grand final glory at least once more in his career.

The 31-year-old still has plenty left in the tank but he knows at some point before he hangs up the boots, he wants to hold that trophy once more.

“I want one more premiership at least, definitely,” Coster said.

“That’s something that’s going to continue to drive me to play for a while yet.

“For the last couple of years I’ve also taken an enjoyment in helping out younger guys coming through whenever or however I can.

“It was something that not until a couple of years ago I thought I’d enjoy, but it is. To continue to do that and try to help guys go to the next level, that would probably be the two main things.”