Former AFL and NRL star Shem Tatupu ‘is charged with attempted murder over alleged family violence offence’

• Shem Tatupu was recruited by Hawthorn and the Storm 
• The 29-year-old is due to face a Melbourne court  

By SHAYNE BUGDEN FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: 08:37 BST, 4 June 2025 | Updated: 08:37 BST, 4 June 2025

Former Hawthorn and Melbourne Storm player Shem Tatupu has been charged with attempted murder after being arrested last month, it has been reported.

The charge against the 29-year-old reportedly relates to an alleged family violence matter.

Police have not revealed when or where the alleged offence occurred. 

Tatupu has already fronted court over the attempted murder charge, according to News Corp, and he is now due to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates Court for a committal hearing in August.

He has also been hit with a separate charge of intentionally causing serious injury and will face Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court over that matter later this month, the publication reported.

Tatupu is the son of New Zealand Warriors foundation player Tony Tatupu.

Shem Tatupu (pictured during his time with the Melbourne Storm) has reportedly already fronted court over the attempted murder charge

The 29-year-old (pictured during his time with Hawthorn) is now due to face Melbourne Magistrates Court in August

Tatupu is the son of former New Zealand Warriors NRL star Tony Tatupu

He played rugby league and union as a youngster before turning to Aussie Rules after participating in a junior AFL tournament in Auckland in 2009.

Tatupu played 22 VFL games with Hawthorn after being signed as an international development player, but left the club in March 2016 to forge a career in the NRL.

He was signed by the Storm later that month, with the move creating headlines due to the rarity of an NRL side trying to convert an Aussie Rules player to the code.

‘We have seen vision of him playing top schoolboy rugby in New Zealand, but when making this decision, character, background and his attitude convinced us,’ Storm football director Frank Ponissi said at the time.

‘Craig [Bellamy, head coach] and I met him a couple of times, his attitude was right, his desire to come here was clear and he didn’t need much convincing.’

When Tatupu left the Hawks, then-football operations manager Chris Fagan revealed the player had stepped away when his desire to make it in the AFL waned.

‘This has been a tough decision for Shem to make,’ said Fagan, who now coaches the Brisbane Lions.

‘We have been really impressed with the way in which he has applied himself over the past two years and he has made some positive progress.

‘However, after much consultation with the club, Shem has decided that the passion for AFL football is no longer there.’

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Former AFL and NRL star Shem Tatupu ‘is charged with attempted murder over alleged family violence offence’

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