Hull FC recruit Jordan Rapana has opened up on the role Aidan Sezer had in persuading him to join the Black and Whites. The Canberra Raiders man has taken up a two-year deal with Hull after turning down Leeds Rhinos and the opportunity to sign a new deal with the Raiders.
As such, he will travel to East Yorkshire in the winter and he’ll be joined at the club by fellow overseas recruit Sezer. Of course, Rapana knows the half-back well having played with him at Gold Coast Titans, where the pair first met incoming Hull boss John Cartwright, and the Raiders.
He knows Sezer’s game well then and together the pair will add experience and knowhow to what is an extremely young Hull side. However, it seems Hull fans have Sezer to thank for persuading the versatile winger and full-back to join the club, with Rapana opening up on the process that led him to choose the Airlie Birds.
“One door closes here at Canberra but an opportunity arises at Hull FC and I’m really looking forward to it,” Rapana told the Saturday Morning Mowers Club. “I think the big reason why I signed to Hull was purely because of John Cartwright.
“He debuted me as a youngster at Titans and to finish my career under him would be a Cinderella story. I played with Aidan at the Titans and the Raiders and he was a big factor in getting me across the line. He called me every day, every hour, making sure that I chose Hull FC over Leeds.
“I’m excited, the body is still holding up and it’s still feeling really good. I still feel like I have a lot to give. They’re a young team and I’m looking forward to getting over there and sharing my experience with them.”
Rapana’s career in the NRL came to an end at the start of the month as his season was curtailed by a fractured eye socket, cheekbone and broken nose following a clash of heads with James Tedesco. The 35-year-old has since had surgery to fix the issue and he has given an update on his recovery.
“It’s not too bad,” he added. “It’s a bit better today (Saturday) and this is day four post surgery, I’ve pretty much been sitting on my couch, laying low and feeling a bit of pain the last few days.”
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