Rapana raring to go

Rapid Jordan Rapana is about to be part of the Black & Whites ‘Carty Party’, and the decorated New Zealand star is loving life in Hull ahead of the upcoming season.

“I love Hull and it’s been an awesome experience so far,” said Rapana. “I’m living in Beverley just outside of Hull and I really like it.

“I’ve been stopped a few times by the fans, and you can really see how passionate people in Hull are about rugby league.

“The playing group have been awesome as well.”

Rapana gets the Raiders on the board ? #NRLRaidersCowboys pic.twitter.com/WV3KRDeLkG

— NRL (@NRL) June 14, 2024

Rapana joins Hull from the NRL’s Canberra Raiders, following a stellar career spanning over a decade. It may be his first stint in the Super League, but he is no stranger to the MKM Stadium, having previously played there in two international games.

“I’m excited. The biggest thing for me that stood out when I was representing New Zealand and playing against England was the passion from the fans,” explained Rapana, who featured for the Kiwis in their narrow test match defeat to England in 2018, before kicking his country to glory and scoring a match-winning try in the 2021 World Cup Quarter Final victory against Fiji.

“Nobody was sitting down; everyone was up and chanting and getting right into it. That all adds to the atmosphere and experience of it all. It really hypes it all up.

“Hopefully I can play well enough, so that the Hull fans will be chanting good things. We’ve had little chants here and there in the NRL but nothing like what they do over here.”

Rapana is one of nine new faces in the Hull side for 2025 and has been hugely impressed with the club’s hefty recruitment drive – as Hull prepare for a thoroughly fresh start, while attempting to erase a difficult 2024 from memory:

“I think Carty [John Cartwright] and Richie Myler have recruited really well. Hull’s season and situation last year wasn’t ideal – they had a lot of young kids thrown in the deep end, but they’ve got that experience here with them now.

“We’ve got players that can steer the ship around and are mixed with the youth, meaning we should be able to compete in every game and play with that heart and passion. I think that gives us a good chance at winning a lot of games.”

With mountains of experience, Rapana also hopes he can be an influential figure West Hull this year, and motivate their promising group of youngsters along with the rest of his senior teammates:

“In my final few years at Canberra it was my role was to be the experienced head - there were a lot of young guys coming through over there at the time.

“We’re fortunate we’ve got the likes of Aidan Sezer and Zak Hardaker here this year too. Experience is something you can’t teach and it’s only going to be more beneficial for the younger ones.”

Everyone at Hull FC will be praying for a much better year, starting with achieving more than just three wins, but Rapana is in high spirits and spoke positively about what the Black & Whites should be working towards:

“As long as we have a team that fights for 80 minutes and never gives us up, I think that’s what fans want to see - teams that compete to final whistle.

“Winning then is the icing on the cake. I’m not coming over here just to be another number. We’re here to win something – whether that be a Challenge Cup or a Super League Grand Final. That’s our ambition and goal and we’re striving towards that every day in pre-season.”

Brought in to play fullback, Rapana will don Hull’s famous number 1 shirt, but has the expertise to cover a number of positions if necessary:

“I spoke to Carty and I am quite versatile with where I can play. I have the number 1 shirt and that fullback role, but I’m happy put my hand up to play any position needed to and do my job there.”

Finally, although Hull FC shan’t be reconciled with their inner-city rivals until Round 8, Rapana admits that the iconic Hull Derby was the first thing that was narrated to him:

“I’m really looking forward to the derby, especially. Lots of people have said I have to experience the derby and that there is nothing quite like it. The results haven’t gone Hull FC’s ways the last few times, but I’m hoping that we can turn that around with the players we’ve got.”

A Jordan Rapana chant, Hull fans?

Will you be following Rapana and Hull FC in 2025?

Watch Catalans Dragons v Hull FC on Friday 14 February, live on Sky Sports and SuperLeague+ (K.O. 8pm).