Veteran Canberra player Jordan Rapana has stated that if the Raiders do not extend an offer of a new contract, he will retire at the end of the current campaign. The fullback, who has spent ten years with the team and played 202 games, knows his career is coming to an end.
But he is keen to sign a new contract with the Raiders for 2025 and play for at least one more season. Rapana stated he will hang up his boots rather than look for another chance at a rival club if it doesn’t work out.
“If I don’t get another extension from the Raiders, I can say right now, I won’t be going anywhere else,” Rapana said.
“It’s home for me. Even though I played at the Titans a handful of games, I still feel like I’m a one-club man.
“I’ve played 99% of my footy at the Raiders. That’s home for me and I’m happy to hang my boots up here too.”
Round 11, 2024
Rapana recognises his health will play a key role in determining whether he is able to push on for another season.
The 34-year-old has largely avoided serious injuries throughout his career but spent the past four games on the sidelines with a knee injury before returning in Friday night’s victory over the Bulldogs.
The past month provided a glimpse into the future for Raiders fans, with coach Ricky Stuart handing an NRL debut to promising teenager Chevy Stewart.
The 18-year-old is seen as Canberra’s long-term fullback and Rapana expects Stewart to wear the No.1 jumper for years to come.
“That’s why [Stuart’s] playing him in those games I was out,” Rapana said. “He’s not playing him for no reason. Sticky sees a massive future in Chevy and so do I.
“He’s a wonderful player, he’s still 18, he’s got lots of footy ahead of him. I have no doubt he’ll be the future fullback of this club.”
Rapana’s comments came after an emotional tribute to Raiders and New Zealand legend Quentin Pongia following Friday night’s Magic Round win.
The club was celebrating the 30th anniversary of their 1994 grand final win over Canterbury, with the majority of the squad assembling in Brisbane to mark the occasion.
Pongia died from bowel cancer in 2019 but former teammate Laurie Daley ensured he was not forgotten. The Raiders legend led a moment of silence for Pongia, before Rapana and his New Zealand teammates performed a haka in his honour.
When Rapana joined the Raiders, Pongia was employed by the team, and the fullback claimed that Rapana’s influence on the game could not be emphasised. “Our wrestle room at Raiders HQ is named after him,” added Rapana. He is a legend in the game, but he is even more of a Raiders legend, having played a major role in this club.
“Most of our males are of Maori descent and are native to New Zealand. I believed that in light of Quentin’s absence, it would be appropriate to take this action.”
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