Fan favourite Jordan Rapana has signed a one-year deal to the remain at the Canberra Raiders for season 2021.
After departing Canberra for a brief stint in Japanese rugby at the end of 2019, Rapana re-joined the team early last season and notched up 19 matches in a variety of roles in 2020.
Rapana spent time coming off the bench, on the wing and even played a game at fullback before finishing the season in the centres due to a large injury toll in the Raiders outside backs this year.
Rapana said he still had unfinished business with the Raiders and was looking forward to having a full pre-season under his belt having missed the last two.
“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.”
Raiders CEO Don Furner said the club was happy to keep the much-loved member of the group.
“Jordan’s a very popular member of the playing group and well loved by the fanbase, so to have an experienced player like him stay at the Raiders is great news for the club,” Furner said.
Rapana will have his work cut out for him to retain a spot in the Raiders starting side next season with plenty of competition for spots in the outside backs. Bailey Simonnson and Curtis Scott are expected to return from injury along with the recently acquired Albert Hopoate from Manly.
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