Hull FC head coach John Cartwright has recalled the first time he saw Jordan Rapana play – nearly two decades ago.
Appointed as the inaugural coach of Gold Coast Titans, Cartwright had 12 months to assemble a team for the then new NRL outfit. Joining the competition for the 2007 season, the now Black and Whites boss had a year to do exactly that, spending 2006 recruiting a first-grade squad and scouring the local regional leagues for players that caught his eye.
One player who did exactly that was Rapana, who, while New Zealand-born, grew up on the Gold Coast. Representing the region, ironically against a Kiwi schoolboys’ team, was where Cartwright first saw him play, with one trait immediately standing out.
Recalling that day ahead of Rapana’s 250th first-grade appearance at Leeds Rhinos on Friday night, Cartwright laid out that competitive edge and toughness of the player, who is now reunited with his first professional coach at Hull, having played out a 17-year career for the Titans, the Canberra Raiders, the New Zealand national side, and now the Airlie Birds.
Addressing Rapana in the shirt presentation ahead of Friday’s game, Cartwright said: “My association with Jordie goes back a fair way. I remember I got the job at Gold Coast Titans, and I had 12 months to recruit a team. I went and watched the local Gold Coast representative team. I think it was under-16s, and they were playing against a New Zealand schoolboys’ team.
“The Gold Coast boys in general are like little blond whipped surfers, skinny kids, but the Kiwi team was huge. I don’t know if they all bought their birth certificates, but they were big, big boys. They ran out onto the field, and I thought this is going to be a massacre, but one thing that stood out was the tall skinny Māori full-back who just took it in all day.
“He charged in no matter who was in front of him. He went in at a million miles an hour. If he wasn’t on the field, it would have ended up 100 points. I had the Titans recruitment guy there with me, and I said we’ve just got to go and sign this young fella. I don’t care what position he plays – he’s as tough as any school kid I’ve ever seen.
“Little did we know that his career would take him to where it is. I’m very fortunate that I was able to give him his debut. It was only two years after that, and here we are. He’s probably still got another ten years in him!”
Rapana debuted with the Titans in the NRL before going on a two-year Mormon mission to the U.K. He also played rugby union, and when returning to Australia, signed for Canberra Raiders. He scored 106 tries in 214 appearances for the Green Machine, with Ricky Stuart laying out his own tribute in a video shared on Hull FC’s social media over the weekend.
“Congratulations on reaching this amazing milestone,” Stuart said. “It’s an incredible achievement and something you really deserve. You play very physically, and you’ve had a lot of injuries, but you’ve got through that because of your pure toughness.
“You’re a great talent, and I’m so proud to say that I was your coach and even more so now. I told you this many years ago: that one day we’d be great mates when I wasn’t coaching you. It’s a real honour that I’ve had that opportunity, and now you’re over in England enjoying another chapter and journey of your career. Congratulations, and I also reckon that you’re probably one of the greatest liars I’ve ever coached in my career.”
Unfortunately, Rapana’s milestone game was cut short at Headingley, with the player coming off second best after a contact with Jake Connor. The now 35-year-old was out cold after a head injury but thankfully regained consciousness and was walking around Headingley later on, avoiding any serious injury.
Rapana has featured in all but two games so far but will now miss Thursday’s game at Leigh. On his milestone, he added: “I’m really honoured, and it goes really quick – I’m just grateful that the body is still holding up.”