Jordan Rapana set to rejoin Canberra Raiders ahead of NRL return

The NRL has given Rapana permission to join the Green Machine when they return to training this week, with the 30-year-old reportedly finalising a short-term deal to see out the season.

No contract has yet been lodged with the NRL.

Rapana had also been linked to the Gold Coast Titans, Canterbury Bulldogs and the Wests Tigers, with the Titans already ruling out a return to the club where he made his NRL debut.

Raiders co-captain Jarrod Croker welcomed the news of his former teammate's return, saying he's a great asset to have back after the loss of "Leipana".

"Hopefully he is back. He's one of those blokes every team would love to have," Croker told 2GB Radio.

"I've obviously played a lot of footy with Rapa and been pretty good mates with him for a long time so it's good to see him back.

"He has been such a big part of the club for a fair while now, so it is great for us.

"He is a great asset to have back. It gives us a bit of depth where we were probably a bit skinny on after losing Rapa and BJ (Joey Leilua)."

Rapana returned to Canberra in March after the Japanese Top League season was brought to an end due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He had been with the Panasonic Wild Knights on a one-season deal after salary cap pressure forced him to leave the Raiders following last year's NRL grand final.

But the New Zealand international always wanted to return to his adopted home.

Raiders chief executive Don Furner denied a deal had been done but said he would reach out to Rapana this week about the potential of re-signing with Canberra.

Rapana scored 69 tries in 113 NRL games with the Raiders before his brief stint in Japan.

"Hopefully next week we can start seeing what he's up to, seeing what he wants to do. He's keen and we'd love to have him there," Furner said.

"It's obviously money, the salary cap and the NRL have got to approve it. We'll see."

The Raiders will reconviene for the biosecurity briefing on Monday and are hoping to start training at their $19 million centre of excellence this week. ACT chief health officer Kerryn Coleman is yet to determine whether the Green Machine can train at Braddon.