Tapine shrugs off World Cup injury scare

Raiders forwards Joseph Tapine and Jordan Rapana were among the last remaining players to return to NRL pre-season training this week.

Canberra powerhouse Joseph Tapine has declared himself ready to go for the club's NRL trials after recovering from an injury scare in last year's World Cup.

Tapine admitting being anxious about a knee injury that required a painkilling injection to finish New Zealand's unsuccessful campaign.

However the Raiders forward on Wednesday said he rejoined full training this week.

"I've been training full, no problems there. All the running's fine. Still feels a bit weak sometimes in weights, but I'm not the strongest bloke in the gym so it doesn't really worry me," he said.

"I was worried because I've never really had any injuries so I didn't know what was wrong with it at the time. Luckily it was alright, they injected it and I was back out there."

Tapine and Kiwis teammate Jordan Rapana were among the remaining Raiders to re-unite with the playing group this week following their mandatory six-week break.

Rapana revealed he had spent the past week in the team's "fat club" after failing a number of targets that resulted in some additional fitness sessions.

"I'm in there with Elliott (Whitehead). I shouldn't be in there too much longer though. I just missed out on getting out but I've got testing again on Friday," Rapana said.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart was forced to confront Samoan trio Junior Paulo, Josh Papalii and Joey Leilua last December after they had returned from World Cup duties overweight.

All three are understood to have since come back to near playing weight for the new year.

"Myself, (Tapine) and a few of the English and Samoan boys, we're grown men and we knew that we were getting a longer break," Rapana said.

"So we did have to look after our bodies and not come back in terrible shape.

"I felt as though I always looked after myself as well as I could've. But that week I had last week has put my fitness back up and my body feels good."

Rapana also conceded the team had a point to prove in 2018 after missing out on last year's finals despite being among the competition favourites at the start of the season.

The Raiders fell two wins short of the top eight.

"Everyone's determined. We want to win that premiership. Last year wasn't our best season but the boys ... want to go out and prove a point this year," he said.


Share

3 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world