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'League is the sport for me': NRL star abandons cross-code aspirations following failed rugby stint

(Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

Canberra’s Jordan Rapana has all but abandoned another shot at rugby union, saying he’d love to finish his sporting career in the NRL with the Raiders.

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Rapana could be rushed back into the Raiders’ line-up when the league resumes on May 28, after his short-lived rugby stint in Japan.

The former Kiwis international only played a handful of trial games with the Panasonic Wild Knights before the competition was postponed by COVID-19.

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It prompted the 30-year-old to seek a return to Canberra and set his sights on ending his career playing rugby league.

“I haven’t had the best strike rate in rugby union,” Rapana said.

“It probably just opened my eyes up a bit more about how much I really enjoy rugby league and how much league is the sport for me.

“Ideally, Canberra’s become my home away from home and I’d love to stay here for the rest of my career.”

Rapana is contracted to the Raiders until the end of this season.

“I’m not too sure what the future has but, if I had it my way, I’d definitely like to stay here and stay in league for sure,” he said.

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Rapana played a key role in Canberra’s charge to last year’s grand final, before departing for rugby.

He admits he returns down the pecking order after Canberra’s unbeaten start in 2020 before the NRL was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic in March.

Promising winger Bailey Simonsson replaced Rapana on one flank with Kangaroos representative Nick Cotric on the other.

Rapana conceded being down on fitness, having missed the NRL pre-season and forced into a two-week quarantine on his return from Japan.

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“There’s no real fitness like NRL pre-season fitness where you’re actually running and got your hands on the ball,” he said.

“And because I was confined to a house and couldn’t really leave the perimeter of my block, I couldn’t really do much running.

“But I’m feeling fit, definitely fresh and healthy, and ready to go .”

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M
MA 2 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.

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