Hull FC ‘land’ New Zealand international for 2025 as NRL deal turned down

Jordan Rapana has turned down the offer of a new deal at Canberra Raiders to join Hull FC for the 2025 season. That’s according to Hull Live and reports Down Under with the New Zealand international reportedly set to take up a two-year deal with the Black and Whites.

Hull have been busy as they plan for the 2025 Super League season and it seems their activity over the last few days has seen them fill up their overseas quota. FC are said to be close on a deal to make Aidan Sezer their senior half-back in a move that hasn’t gone down particularly well with supporters.

However, a deal to sign Raiders favourite Rapana promises to be received a lot better by fans, with the versatile outside back, who can also play at full-back, seemingly set to make the move to East Yorkshire with Hull said to have pipped Leeds Rhinos to his signature. The 35-year-old has been with Canberra since 2014 following a brief stint with Gold Coast Titans in 2008 and he remains a regular in Ricky Stuart’s line-up.

This season alone Rapana has touched down for six tries in 18 games and that’s enough to take his NRL tally to 115 tries in 231 appearances, including finals outings. All but five of those efforts have come in the green of Canberra.

Rapana is fully fledged international and after claiming three caps with the Cook Islands, he made his New Zealand debut in 2016. He has since collected 16 caps for his country of birth, with 11 tries coming along the way.

The addition of Rapana certainly adds star power to the backline that looks short of senior talent going into the 2025 season. The Black and Whites have added Zak Hardaker and Ed Chamberlain to their ranks for next season, while Tom Briscoe joined the club earlier this season.
They are the only senior outside backs contracted for next season, though. Of course, Rapana has spent much of this season in the full-back role and it remains to be seen if John Cartwright will use him as a number one.

The moves for Sezer and Rapana, should they be completed, seem to bring an end to Carlos Tuimavave’s time at Hull FC, with the Samoa international’s contract coming to an end at the end of this season.