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NRL star commits future to rugby league following failed cross-code Top League stint

Jordan Rapana of the Canberra Raiders (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

A year after a deal with Japanese rugby threatened to end his time with Canberra, Jordan Rapana has signed a new one-year NRL contract with the club.

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The 31-year-old has agreed to terms with the Raiders for 2021, saying he has unfinished business.

Shortly after the 2019 grand final loss to Sydney Roosters, Rapana took up a deal to play rugby union in Japan, but his stint was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic.

The popular winger rejoined Canberra on a short-term contract and played 19 games this year, but will now get another chance at an NRL title with the Raiders next season.

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It’s been a drawn out process, but Rapana said he’s relieved his future is secured.

“I’m really happy to be staying in Canberra, I feel like I’ve got unfinished business here and I want to be part of a team that can win a grand final,” Rapana said.

“I love everything about the club and the boys we have here are a great bunch of blokes who I think can do something special.

“I’m looking forward to a full pre-season as well.

“The last couple of pre-seasons for me have been hard as I’ve had surgery or niggling injuries, but I feel really good and I can’t wait to get back into it and be ready for the start of the season.”

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Rapana has played 132 games for the Raiders since he joined the club in 2014.

He becomes the latest NRL player without a contract to shore up his future.

Cameron Smith, Nathan Peats, Elijah Taylor, Danny Levi and Tim Lafai are all off-contract and are yet to announce their plans for 2021.

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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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