Frustrating time for Rapira
HE was in the thick of it, following Ricky Henry’s instructions to the letter – but carting the ball up or roaming on the right edge of the ramshackle Belmore Sports Ground was never in Steve Rapira’s grand game plan for 2012.
Ideally the 23-year-old would be enjoying the bye week with the New Zealand Warriors, looking forward to next Sunday’s clash with the Melbourne Storm and running on to Mt Smart Stadium with older brother Sam.
Instead, he spent 80 minutes yesterday trying to make an impression at NSW Cup level with the Auckland Vulcans during their 26-18 loss to Cronulla in a 12th round clash at the Bulldogs spiritual home.
It was the curtainraiser to the Bulldogs match against Newcastle so the salt of the earth venue was sparsely populated by either the die-hard, or the disinterested waiting for the main second-tier event.
The latest setback in a depressing sequence of injuries consigns Rapira to the Warriors feeder club for the foreseeable future, almost a year after he made his first grade debut against the Sydney Roosters.
It was a fleeting experience in the big league – four games that ironically coincided with Sam’s unavailability due to a dislocated thumb.
When he returned to Auckland last year after two seasons in North Queensland, the move was partially motivated by a desire to play alongside Sam in the NRL. The Warriors have played 41 times since the brothers were reunited – but they are still yet to be included in the same match-day squad as injury continues to dog the siblings, especially the youngest.
Steve Rapira’s issues began in his final season at the Cowboys when a groin injury limited the second rower to just 10 games, hardly a fond farewell before arriving home. He recovered to play four pre-season trials last year but a procedure to tidy up knee cartilage culminated in a six-week lay-off.
A high ankle sprain during the trial against South Sydney in February condemned him to another frustrating phase of rehab just as new Warriors coach Brian Mcclennan was remodelling his game.
A second rower by trade, Rapira bulked up 10kg when Mcclennan believed he could partner or back-up Sam in the front row, but he lost traction when that ankle rolled.
The timing was particularly painful as Jacob Lillyman sustained a longterm biceps injury in the previous trial against the Gold Coast Titans – an opportunity Rapira was unable to capitalise on.
‘‘I was real disappointed. It ended up going from four to six weeks off to 12. It’s gutting but it opened up an opportunity for Sione (Lousi) and he’s done awesome for himself.’’
Lousi and Ukuma Ta’ai filled the void until Ben Matulino, Russell Packer, Lillyman and Rapira – the quartet that muscled the Warriors to last year’s Grand Final – were rolled out for the first time against the West Tigers on May 18.
A member of the Warriors inaugural under-20s Toyota Cup squad in 2008, Rapira admitted his second stint at the club has been frustrating.
‘‘It’s been disappointing but there’s a great bunch of staff at the club and there’s always boys injured. We always try to stay positive together.’’
He signed a two-year contract with the potential to stay on in 2013.
Vulcans coach Henry, who named Rapira at prop but employed him in the second row, commended his attitude three games into his comeback.
‘‘He’s a professional, he’s taken it in his stride. He knows he’s has to work hard to get an opportunity.’’