NRL 2022: Indigenous vs Maori All Stars, Jordan Rapana suspended for one week
Canberra’s Jordan Rapana will miss the start of the season following a fiery All Stars clash that had it all — three sin-bins, three reports and plenty of passion.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Canberra’s Jordan Rapana will miss the opening two matches of the season after being hit cited for a shoulder charge during the All-Stars clash on Saturday night.
Rapana was already suspended for Canberra’s opening round one clash against Cronulla because of a drink driving offence in the off-season.
The Raiders flyer pleaded guilty in Maroochydore Magistrates Court in October to drink driving in Maroochydore on September 27. He blew of 0.098.
Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free now.
Rapana was fined $500 and disqualified from driving for three months.
He was also suspended by the NRL for one match because of the incident.
Rapana was placed on report twice for separate shoulder charge tackles and was sent to the sin bin during a firey encounter for the Maori All Stars. His first shot left David Fifita with a minor rib injury while he also collected Jesse Ramien with his shoulder.
The match review committee charged him for the tackle on Fifita. He will miss two games with an early guilty plea. Rapana can serve his off-field ban along with his suspension concurrently meaning he will be free to play in round three.
The Raiders are now scrambling to fill their round one backline having lost Harley Smith-Shields with a season-ending knee injury. Veteran Jarrod Croker is also battling to be fit for the season opener as he makes a comeback from a serious knee injury.
Their situation has been eased by the return of local product Nick Cotric after a season at the Bulldogs.
The All-Stars clash may have created some further headaches for the Raiders backline but it left their round one opponents Cronulla at ease with new recruit Nicho Hynes.
Hynes said he felt comfortable in the No.6 jersey.
“I’ve been working really hard in the preseason transitioning from fullback into the halves,” Hynes said. “I’ll do some video and hopefully build on that. Turn what I did wrong into right.”
He picked up a minor foot complaint after being stepped on but Hynes said he did not expect it to be an issue.
The ex-Storm player said despite the 16-6 loss on Saturday night he grew as a person because of the match.
“I wasn’t aware of who I was before this camp,” Hynes said. “I’m going to speak up about my identity and be proud of it.”
MATCH REPORT: FIERY ALL STARS CLASH
Three sin-bins, three reports, a barnstorming David Fifita and plenty of passion.
The first match of the rugby league year kicked-off in fine style with the Maori team beating the Indigenous All Stars 16-10.
The rain failed to quell the tempers of both sides in front of 26,755 people.
The crowd was brought to their feet with the respective haka and war cry. That set the scene for a fiery encounter which slowed late in the game as fatigue kicked in.
Man of the match Joe Tapine, who laid on a try and scored another, led from the front for the Maori side, while Nicho Hynes was among the best for the Indigenous team.
Indigenous coach Laurie Daley said it was a “brutal” hit out.
“It just shows you the game means something otherwise you would not have got that contest,” Daley said. “A great way to start.”
RAPANA DRAMA
Raiders winger Jordan Rapana is in doubt for the season opener against the Sharks after he was placed on report twice for first-half shoulder chargers.
Rapana cleaned up the damaging David Fifita after the back-rower passed the ball. The Raiders are already without Harley Smith-Shields, who they lost with a season-ending knee injury.
Rapana collected Jesse Ramien with a second shoulder charge which resulted in a heated push and shove that spilt over the sidelines.
Rapana was sin-binned alongside Andrew Fifita, who was also placed on report for rushing in to spark the melee just as the first quarter ended.
Ramien found himself in the sin-bin midway through the second half for tackling a player without the ball in a try-scoring opportunity.
RAMPAGING FIFITA
David Fifita proved a handful at times last season.
He produced a barnstorming effort to set up the first try of the match in what could be one of the best solo runs of the season.
The Indigenous side shifted deep within their half to create space for Fifita. He ran over the top of three players and raced 50 metres before drawing Rapana to send Ramien over the try line after 12 minutes.
Fifita spent a stint on the sideline as he recovered from the Rapana shoulder charge before returning late in the first half.
Fifita picked up a minor rib problem but grew an admirer in Daley.
“We didn’t do enough to get him one-on-one,” Daley said.
“We played under-12s where we give the big kid the ball. He is such a damaging player. You’d love to have him on your side.”
POINTS SURGE
The Maori team scored two tries in six minutes to snatch a first-half lead, which they kept for the rest of the match.
Kodi Nikorima pounced through the middle of the field after an interchange of passing to score the Maori opener before Esan Marsters scored with his first touch to give his side a 10-6 half-time lead.
Tapine charged forward to score the first try of the second half while Tyrell Sloan crossed for the Indigenous team.
Maori coach David Kidwell said NRL boss Andrew Abdo told him they would take the clash to New Zealand next year.
“Every time I call the players they are so passionate about representing their heritage,” Kidwell said. “The game is the icing on the cake.”
CONCUSSION WOES
Indigenous players Josh Curran and Will Smith failed to finish the match because of head knocks. Smith injured himself attempting a tackle while Curran was hurt as he raced to pick up a grubber kick in a bid to score a try.
More Coverage
Originally published as NRL 2022: Indigenous vs Maori All Stars, Jordan Rapana suspended for one week
Vintage Tedesco just misses perfect 10: Every Rooster, Sea Eagle rated
An awful first set for Manly hung over them like a cloud – and the Roosters’ stars were able to capitalise. Check out our player ratings and have your say!
Roosters end prelim final drought as injury carnage sinks Sea Eagles
For the first time in five years, the Roosters are through to the preliminary finals, heading down to Melbourne after demolishing a rattled Sea Eagles side.