Fitter, faster Rapana playing every game like it's his last

Off contract next season and closing in on 35, Jordan Rapana knows his days in the NRL are numbered but the lighter and fitter fullback is showing no signs of slowing down.

Ricky Stuart has pinned his faith in the next-gen of Green Machine in 2024 with 19-year-old Ethan Strange, 21-year-old Xavier Savage and Albert Hopoate, 23, all looking to make their mark this season.

And despite being 10 years older than majority of Canberra’s other backline members, Rapana is well and truly keeping up with the young ones, fit and firing after his first full pre-season training at fullback.

Already averaging more run metres this season (165) than any other year since making his debut in 2014, the 34-year-old is for now, keeping retirement talks at bay.

“My weight has had a lot to do with it, I’ve always played on the wing which is one of those positions where you can get involved as much as you want to and go back and rest,” Rapana said following the Raiders 32-12 win over the Wests Tigers.

“Whereas fullback, if you take any shortcuts or try and hide, you'll be found out very quickly.

“I’ve lost about seven kilos, I usually play at 102kg and I'm 95 now so I think getting my weight back down to a reasonable weight has made a massive difference.

“You can see with Papa (Papali’i) as well. It was the first time we've all had a full pre-season and we're not getting ahead of ourselves, but it's showing.”

With a knack for scoring tries and his versatility proving invaluable for the Raiders in recent seasons, the New Zealand international has become a mainstay of Stuart’s 17 since joining the club over a decade ago.

Currently the oldest outside back in the competition and staring down the barrel of a potential swansong season, the 203-gamer said he will treat this year no different and continue to fight for his jersey each week.  

“I've always had that motto. I'm obviously still enjoying myself and whether it is my last year or not, I’m going to play every game like it's my last,” Rapana said.

“After games like this (Saturday), where you get a couple of head knocks. It does cross your mind that maybe it's time to hang the boot up.

“It is getting faster and more physical, but I still feel as though I'm competing well and keeping up to the speed of the game and enjoying myself.

“Never say never hey.”

Sitting on top of the NRL ladder for the first time since 2005, the Raiders will be hungry to make it three from three, when they meet the Warriors in Christchurch on Friday.

Leaving on Monday to spend a few days in New Zealand while preparing for the match, Rapana said his side will be taking plenty of confidence into Round 3.

“We don’t want to be a team that’s inconsistent. Getting back to that wins is important and now we want to make it three from three, four from four,” he said.

“We knew we could win the first two games, it’s no surprise but once you lose momentum, it doesn’t matter who you’re playing, it’s hard to get it back.

“We’ll take huge confidence going to Christchurch and being around each other for a few days in camp is only going to be more of a positive.”