Jordan Rapana

Jordan Rapana (born 15 August 1989) is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a er for the Canberra Raiders in the National Rugby League (NRL).

He has played for the New Zealand Māori, New Zealand and the Cook Islands at international level.

He previously played for the Gold Coast Titans NRL club and the Western Force Super Rugby team.

Rapana was born in Wellington, New Zealand, and is of Māori, Cook Island and Italian descent.

From the Ngāti Toa iwi (Māori tribe), he moved to the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia as a 10-year-old.

He played his junior football for the Tugun Seahawks and attended Palm Beach Currumbin High School before being signed by the Gold Coast Titans.

In 2008, Rapana played for the Gold Coast Titans' NYC team.

In Round 18 of the 2008 NRL season, he made his NRL debut for the Gold Coast Titans against the Sydney Roosters.

At the end of 2008, he was named on the interchange bench in the 2008 NYC Team of the Year.

He also played for the New Zealand Māori rugby league team.

In Round 22, he made his debut for them against the Parramatta Eels, his first NRL game since 2008.

On 8 May, Rapana re-signed with Canberra on a two-year contract.

In 2009, Rapana left the NRL to serve a two-year Mormon mission in England and Wales.

During his time in England he played for Supermarine RFC.

In June, Rapana signed a contract with Super Rugby team, Western Force, starting in 2012.

For the 2012 season, he played for the Palmyra Rugby Union Club.

In 2013, Rapana moved to Canberra to play for the Queanbeyan Blues in the TTM Canberra Raiders Cup and also to train with the Brumbies in the hope of gaining a contract.

On 24 June, he signed a two-year contract with the Canberra Raiders effective immediately.

At the end of 2013, he played for the Cook Islands in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

On 7 August, Rapana re-signed with the Raiders on a one-year contract.

He finished the 2016 season with 23 tries, equal most with Suliasi Vunivalu, and breaking the Canberra club record During the season, Rapana and his centre partner Joseph Leilua became one of the most destructive duos of the year, scoring some fantastic tries and their strong friendship outside the footy field labelling them as "Leipana".

On 4 October, he was rewarded for his big year with Canberra by being selected in the New Zealand Kiwis 24-man squad for the 2016 Four Nations.

On 15 October 2016, he made his international debut for the Kiwis against Australia, playing on the wing in the 26–6 loss at Perth Oval.

In his next match against England, Rapana scored two tries in the 17–16 win at Kirklees Stadium in Huddersfield.

Rapana played in four matches and scored three tries in the tournament including in the final match against Australia, playing on the wing in the 34–8 loss at Anfield.

Rapana was named the Kiwis rookie of the year by the New Zealand Rugby League.

After Canberra's round 1 match against the North Queensland Cowboys, Rapana received a warning from the NRL after he put up both of his middle fingers, gesturing at the officials after teammate Elliot Whitehead was denied a try in Golden Point Extra Time; the Raiders lost 20-16 shortly afterwards at 1300SMILES Stadium.

On 17 October, he played for the Cook Islands in their Asia-Pacific Qualifier match against Tonga for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

In Round 8 against the Wests Tigers, Rapana scored four tries in Canberra's 60–6 win.

On 5 October, he was named in the New Zealand Kiwis 24-man squad for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

Rapana played in 3 matches and scored 2 tries in the Kiwis shock disappointing campaign.

Rapana played in 21 matches and scored 10 tries for the Raiders in 2018.

On 1 October, he was selected in the Kiwis' 23-man squad for their tour of England and the test match against Australia.

In the second match in the Baskerville Shield against England, Rapana suffered a dislocated shoulder during the 20–14 loss at Anfield.

The injury was expected to sideline him for at least six months.

The Raiders sought a salary cap exemption of up to $350,000, possible where a player suffers a long-term injury while on rep duty.

On 10 March, he signed a two-year extension with Canberra, keeping him in the nation's capital until 2019.

In Round 8 against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Rapana scored one of the season's best tries by leaping high and somehow getting a hand to a Blake Austin grubber that looked destined to go too deep in the corner during Canberra's 20-18 golden point extra time loss at Canberra Stadium.

On 5 May, Rapana played on the wing for New Zealand in the ANZAC Test, a 30–12 loss.

Rapana finished the season as the club's highest try-scorer with 21 tries in 23 matches.