Canberra Raiders star Jordan Rapana cashes in on NRL’s suspension loophole

Jordan Rapana had been look at a three-game suspension, but the Canberra Raiders star has had his ban cut by the NRL.

Jordan Rapana has unwittingly helped expose a loophole in the NRL’s judicial system. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Canberra Raiders star Jordan Rapana is set to serve bans for drink-driving and a shoulder charge concurrently, effectively cutting his time spent on the sidelines by a week.

Rapana will miss the first two games of the 2022 NRL season after being cited for a grade 1 shoulder charge in Saturday night’s All Stars Game, a 16-10 win to the Maori All Stars.

At fullback, Rapana laid a textbook shoulder charge on Indigenous All Stars back-rower David Fifita, who was in the throes of a line break down the right flank.

Rapana took the early guilty plea for his shoulder charge on Monday and will miss the first two games of the Raiders’ season against the Sharks and Sea Eagles.

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Rapana had also been preparing to spend a week on the sidelines for a drink-driving offence, but an NRL spokesman confirmed to News Corp on Monday that he had been permitted to serve the two bans concurrently.

Jordan Rapana was sin-binned for a second shoulder charge on Saturday night. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

New Zealand Warriors young gun Reece Walsh has been granted the same privilege – the crafty fullback was due to spend one week on the sidelines for his role in a melee in round 25, plus two as punishment for drug possession in the off-season.

A Warriors spokesperson told News Corp the club had been aware “for some time” that Walsh would be permitted to serve his bans simultaneously.

Both he and Rapana are available to play in their side’s NRL trials this month.

A source at the Raiders told News Corp that coach Ricky Stuart was likely to rest Rapana for Canberra’s first trial on February 18 as he recovers from the All Stars Game but said he could line up for the second on February 25.

Speaking on SEN, sports broadcaster Andrew Voss questioned the thought process of allowing Rapana to serve his bans simultaneously.

“Let’s say the drink-driving incident came now, what would the league do?” Voss asked.

“You’re telling me they’d let him serve a one-game ban while he’s already suspended?”