Former Gold Coast star Jordan Rapana is on the verge of resurrecting his NRL career at the Canberra Raiders as he prepares for a cross-code switch with out-of-favour winger Sandor Earl. Earl - one half of the Canberra bromance ''Dorguson'' - is expected to leave the Raiders at the end of the season after signing a lucrative deal to play second-division rugby union in France next year.
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But in a trading-places scenario, The Canberra Times can reveal Rapana - who had been vying for a contract with the ACT Brumbies - could sign with the Raiders as early as next week.
Rapana was a teenage NRL sensation in 2008 when he burst on to the stage with five tries in five matches for the Gold Coast Titans. However, he decided to stay strong to his faith and complete a two-year Mormon mission in Wales and England.
When he returned he tried to make a code swap to Super Rugby with the Western Force. But when he was ousted from the Force, the Brumbies extended an olive branch to allow him to train with them.
He juggled working at bars and cafes with training to prove he desperately wanted a chance to get back to professional football.
Rapana was a standout performer for Royals in the John I. Dent Cup and was pushing for a Brumbies contract, but the lure of the NRL has been too good to resist.
The 23-year-old has been in talks with Raiders coach David Furner about reigniting his league career.
He's a talented outside back and is the perfect replacement as Earl takes off to France on a deal reportedly worth up to $220,000 a season. Earl's move comes after the try-scoring winger was shopped around to the Brumbies earlier this year as he tested the rugby union waters.
However, the Brumbies declined the approach and Earl went in search of a club overseas.
Earl is no stranger to gauging interest from other codes. Fairfax Media has reported he was on the verge of switching to the AFL after a secret try-out with the Essendon Bombers, arranged by sports scientist Stephen Dank.
Earl was put through a series of kicking, marking and handball drills in May last year when the Bombers were in Sydney.
But Earl instead linked with the Raiders - his third NRL club after playing for the Sydney Roosters and Penrith Panthers - and then helped the Green Machine into the finals last year.
The 23-year-old has formed a dynamic right-side combination at the Raiders with NSW Origin player Blake Ferguson.
In his 21 games for the Raiders he has scored 14 tries, including a hat-trick against the Newcastle Knights three weeks ago.
He was dropped from the first-grade side for the clash with Manly last weekend after Furner opted to keep youngsters Jack Wighton and Edrick Lee in his team.
His bromance with Ferguson was set in ink when he got a tattoo of ''Dorguson'' last year.
But the friendly pair will have to split as Earl links with French second-division club Pau.
