Stapleton formerly played for St. George and St. George Illawarra, Parramatta Eels, Penrith Panthers and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the Australian National Rugby League (NRL) competition as well as Leigh Centurions and Salford City Reds in Super League, primarily as a prop.

Stapleton made his first grade debut for St. George against the Gold Coast Chargers in round 11 of the 1998 NRL season which ended in a 30–16 victory.

In the 2002 NRL season, he played in the club's elimination final loss against rivals Cronulla-Sutherland.

Stapleton returned to Australia in 2009 to play in the Illawarra rugby league competition with Wests and was called up by South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2010 due to the number of injuries they had in the forwards.

[4] For the 2019 Group 7 Rugby League season, Stapleton was named head coach of the Warilla Gorillas.