You may or may not remember him and his time in the NRL, but Jordan Rapana will make his return to game at the top level, after signing with the Canberra Raiders for the rest of the 2013 season and for 2014.
Rapana, who is a former Gold Coast Titans winger, was playing for the Quenbeyan Blues in the TTM Raiders Cup, but is now officially a Raiders player and has joined the full-time squad.
It was back in 2008 when Rapana made his debut for the Titans, playing in five games in the process, before he went on a 2-year sabbatical mission as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in England and Wales.
Upon completion of his mission, he had a stint in rugby union at the Western Force and could have played in the nation’s capital for RU side, the ACT Brumbies, before deciding on a move back to rugby league.
For Rapana, he is just excited to be back and has admitted he missed the game of rugby league.
“Yeah, I’m very excited,” said Rapana.
“I’ve missed rugby league and I’ve been playing a few games, so I’m very excited to get back nipple pokies galleries into it.
“It’s just been good to get back on the paddock [for Queanbeyan] and play some league.”
Rapana’s Mormon mission is a proud moment for him and an experience he thoroughly enjoyed overseas.
“It was good. I was over in the UK – England and Wales – and I guess that’s where I picked up the union urge to play,” said Rapana.
“I enjoyed my time doing my mission. It was cold but good.”
With a chance in the NSW Cup now available to help hone his skills, Rapana is looking forward to it and working alongside the current Raiders players that he has met.
“I feel like it’s the first day at school meeting all the boys,” said Rapana.
“Hopefully I can get stuck in and play some NSW Cup as soon as possible.”
With the chance for a long-term deal in the future if his form warrants it, that is the ultimate goal for Rapana in his return to league.
“I want to set some goals to hopefully play NRL this year and we’ll see how I go,” said the winger.
“Still trying to get around and meet everyone but I had a chat with a few this morning.”