Canberra Raiders winger Jordan Rapana has revealed his intentions to carve a career in the capital, adamant he would be "silly" to walk away from a Green Machine on the verge of a premiership era.
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Rapana's NRL finals pain was eased slightly on Thursday when he joined Raiders teammate Joe Tapine in being added to the New Zealand training squad for the end-of-year Four Nations tournament.
The one-time Super Rugby hopeful has emerged as one of the best wingers in international rugby league after a sublime season for the Raiders, scoring 23 tries to set a new single-season club record.
The Raiders have already initiated talks with the former barman and barber to extend his contract beyond the end of the 2017 season.
Rapana told his management he didn't want to discuss his future until the Raiders' season was over.
But with the pain still burning after losing a preliminary final to the Melbourne Storm last weekend, Rapana declared: "We've got a premiership in us here in Canberra, I'd be silly to leave now.
"I love it here in Canberra, I absolutely love it at this wonderful club.
"I know we've got a premiership in us in the next few years and you can feel that we're so close to success.
"I've been keeping busy the past few days so I haven't thought about [losing to Melbourne] much, but it does hurt knowing how close we were.
"It's probably still sinking in, but when [the Storm and the Sharks] run out in the grand final it will hit me."
Rapana's hard-running and uncompromising style earned him plenty of praise this year but he was overlooked as the Dally M winger of the year at the NRL awards night on Wednesday.
He was beaten to the prize by Penrith Panthers star and NSW speedster Josh Mansour. It was Mansour's decision to turn down a contract with Canberra that opened the door for Rapana to shine.
The tale of their stats tells the story of two in-form wingers who could go head to head for New Zealand and Australia next month.
Rapana scored 23 tries and made 26 line breaks compared to Mansour's 16 tries and 22 line breaks.
Rapana's season tally of 23 tries eclipsed a long-standing Raiders record of 22 tries in a year set by Noa Nadruku, Brett Mullins and Jason Croker.
"It was a pretty good year and I was happy but we would have loved to still be playing this week," Rapana said.
"Mansour's a pretty good player and he deserved that award. I'll just keep working."
Rapana will link with the New Zealand side for the first time in the hope of earning his first Test cap under new Kiwi coach David Kidwell.
Tapine has also been picked for the first time while Raiders veteran Sia Soliola was overlooked.
Rapana decided at the start of the year to pledge his allegiance to New Zealand instead of chasing a Queensland State of Origin berth.
That could see him square off against Raiders "Leipana" bromance partner Joey Leilua if both earn international selection.
"Playing for New Zealand has been a goal of mine since the start of the year and I'd love to get in that team, I've got my foot in the door so I'm happy for that," Rapana said.
"I realised I'd probably have more passion playing for that New Zealand jersey. It would be pretty surreal, hopefully I can swap sides so I can mark up on Joey."
Meanwhile, Raiders halfback Sam Williams, who struggled for first grade appearances in 2016 after the arrival of Aidan Sezer from Gold Coast Titans, has signed a one-year deal with English Super League club Wakefield.
