Canberra duo Jordan Rapana and BJ Leilua want to fire in one last NRL finals series together as the former Kiwis winger weighs up a shock switch back to rugby union.
‘Leipana’ have lit up the NRL since the dynamic duo first formed their right edge combination at the Raiders in 2015.
But their time terrorising defences could be coming to an end with Rapana in negotiations with the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan.
The Wild Knights are headed by former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans, who oversees a roster which will feature star Australian loose forward David Pocock next season.
Rapana, 30, was contracted with former Super Rugby club the Western Force in 2012 before joining the Raiders.
Canberra’s salary cap constraints mean a lucrative switch back to union looks imminent, but Rapana said his focus was on snapping a 25-year title drought in the capital.
“I haven’t signed anything but in terms of my career and what the future holds I have to keep all options open,” Rapana told AAP.
“My manager is sorting that out and I just told him ‘I’ve got a job here to do and we can talk about that in four weeks when our season is finished’.
“I just really want to win a comp here with these boys. You never know when it’s your last chance … it would mean everything.
“It would be the icing on the cake and to be honest I’d probably retire. If I did that I probably wouldn’t even go to Japan.”
Canberra face Melbourne in a qualifying final on Saturday and both Rapana and Leilua said the club is better positioned to win the competition than their last finals run in 2016.
Leilua, the reigning Dally M centre of the year, said if Rapana leaves he wants to make the most of their final games together.
“What we do well is back each other. If I know he’s there or somewhere around me I’m going to offload because I know he’ll pick up the ball and vice versa,” Leilua said.
“I’m going to miss him if he goes, he’s going to be dearly missed.”