Sam RAPIRA [
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Sun November 13, 2011
Source: www.warriors.co.nzSam Rapira, the Vodafone Warriors' most experienced prop, has recommitted himself to the club by extending his contract to the end of the 2014 NRL season.
In 2007, the then 20-year-old Waikato product was secured on one the NRL's longest contracts when, in just his second first-grade season, he signed for five years until the end of 2012.
Still only 24, Rapira will become a nine-year Vodafone Warrior following negotiations between his manager Peter Brown and the club.
"I really want to play my football here for the Vodafone Warriors," he said.
"This is where it all started for me when I moved up from home. I couldn't be happier here. The club is in great shape, we've got so many good players coming through and I want to be here to do all I can to help.
"I was also keen to have my future settled before we get into the next season."
Despite being troubled by a serious thumb injury, Rapira still played 21 matches, including the NRL grand final, in 2011, lifting his career total to 123 appearances since his debut in 2006.
New Vodafone Warriors coach Brian McClennan said it was critical for the club's future to retain the oldest of the Rapira brothers.
"Sam is a prop of the highest quality. He has proved himself to be one of the best in the game over the last few years," he said.
"While he's still young, he has tremendous experience at both Test and NRL level, invaluable for us as we continue to bring younger players into out NRL squad from the Vodafone Junior Warriors. Sam's such a solid person, very much a leader and mentor for those boys. He has a huge role to play for us both on the field and off it."
Vodafone Warriors recruitment manager Dean Bell said Rapira was another great advertisement for the club's development system.
"While Sam arrived too early to benefit from the NYC, he came through ou development system around the same time as others like Manu Vatuvei and Simon Mannering," he said.
"His success has shown the way for others who have followed, that they can come through and make it in the NRL level as local players."
A former Junior Kiwi captain, Rapira had only just turned 19 when he made his debut in 2006. After being used 10 times that season, he was then ever-present as he appeared in all 26 games in 2007 and all 27 in 2008 while he missed only one of 24 games in 2009. A patella injury in 2010 and a dislocated thumb this year kept him sidelined for a period in both campaigns but each time he fought his way back to help the Vodafone Warriors to back-to-back finals appearances, peaking with this year's clash against Manly in the NRL grand final.
In his second season, Rapira was selected for the Kiwis for the first time, making his debut in the 2007 Anzac Test when McClennan was Kiwi coach. He was also in the Kiwis' World Cup-winning side in 2008.
A high point for Rapira in his younger days was playing alongside his younger brother Steve and the two joined forces at the Vodafone Warriors again this year when Steve returned from a two-year stint with the North Queensland Cowboys.
SAM RAPIRA
Born: April 8, 1987
Birthplace: Hamilton, NZ
Position: Prop
Height: 184cm
Weight: 105kg
Junior Club: Hukanui (Waikato)
Other Clubs: Nil
NRL Debut: Vodafone Warriors v Wests Tigers, May 20, 2006 (Round 11)
NRL Career: 123 appearances, 2006-2011
NRL Points: 44 (11 tries)
Club Number: 131
Representative:
13 Tests for Kiwis, 2007-2011 (debut v Australia, 2007)
World Cup winner 2008
New Zealand A 2006
New Zealand Residents 2005
Junior Kiwis 2005-2005
Tue July 5, 2011
Source: www.warriors.co.nzLoose forward Micheal Luck and prop Sam Rapira have both been named to return from injury lay-offs for the Vodafone Warriors' 18th-round NRL encounter with Gold Coast at Mount Smart Stadium on Friday night.
Luck is set to make his 208th appearance and Rapira his 111th in the first of the club's back-to-back Friday night matches in Auckland, the second of them against Canterbury-Bankstown on July 15.
Luck was originally due to be sidelined for up to eight weeks after partially dislocating the patella in his left knee during the Vodafone Warriors' 22-26 loss to Wests Tigers on June 12 but has recovered quicker than expected to make his return just four weeks later.
Rapira has been out of action for two months after dislocating his left thumb in the opening minute of the Kiwis' Anzac Test against Australia at Skilled Park on May 6. He subsequently needed surgery to repair the injury. He is one of five players named on the interchange bench along with his younger brother Steve, whom he is yet to play alongside in the NRL.
"It's obviously a big positive for us having such experienced players like Lucky and Sam coming back from their injuries," said Vodafone Warriors coach Ivan Cleary.
"Lucky has come back quicker than initially thought while Sam has worked hard to recover from his thumb injury."
Also returning are fullback Kevin Locke and rookie halfback Shaun Johnson. Locke, who missed the 8-16 loss to Melbourne with a knee injury, is back in the No 1 jersey with Lance Hohaia moving to the interchange while Johnson will make his fourth NRL appearance, replacing the injured Brett Seymour (cheekbone).
With Luck making his comeback, Elijah Taylor is included on the bench with captain Simon Mannering and Feleti Mateo starting in the second row.
Prop Jacob Lillyman, who turns out for Queensland in tomorrow night's State of Origin decider, will make his 50th appearance for the Vodafone Warriors on Friday night while hooker Aaron Heremaia will appear in his 49th first-grade match and centre Shaun Berrigan in his 198th career game. Standoff James Maloney needs only one more point to bring up his century for the second season running.
This Friday night's match day sponsor is ZM. The feature attraction of its match day activities will be the Bendon undie run to be staged during the halftime break in the NRL clash.
Tickets can be purchased by going to www.warriors.co.nz or www.ticketek.co.nz or at selected Mad Butcher outlets (Albany, Mangere East, Manukau, Papakura and Glen Innes).
NZ WARRIORS v GOLD COAST TITANS
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
8.30pm, Friday, July 8
1 Kevin Locke
2 Bill Tupou
3 Lewis Brown
4 Shaun Berrigan
5 Manu Vatuvei
6 James Maloney
7 Shaun Johnson
8 Russell Packer
9 Aaron Heremaia
10 Jacob Lillyman
11 Feleti Mateo
12 Simon Mannering [c]
13 Micheal Luck
14 Lance Hohaia
15 Sam Rapira
16 Ben Matulino
17 Elijah Taylor
20 Steve Rapira
Coach: Ivan Cleary
======================================================================================================
 2011 NRL Telstra Premiership
New Zealand Warriors
19 games; 1 tries, 4 points.
[View] Round 1 [12 Mar 11] L 18-24 v Eels (H). [BE]
[View] Round 2 [19 Mar 11] L 12-20 v Wests Tigers (A). [BE]
[View] Round 3 [27 Mar 11] L 12-25 v Dragons (H). [PR]
[View] Round 4 [03 Apr 11] W 26-18 v Cronulla (A). [BE]
[View] Round 5 [09 Apr 11] W 24-12 v Roosters (H). [PR]
[View] Round 6 [16 Apr 11] L 10-20 v Sea Eagles (A). [PR]
[View] Round 7 [25 Apr 11] W 18-14 v Storm (A). [PR]
[View] Round 8 [01 May 11] W 26-18 v Panthers (H). [PR]
[View] Round 18 [08 Jul 11] W 22-6 v Titans (H). [BE]
[View] Round 19 [15 Jul 11] W 36-12 v Canterbury (H). [BE]
[View] Round 20 [24 Jul 11] W 48-16 v Rabbitohs (A). [BE]
[View] Round 21 [31 Jul 11] W 29-10 v Canberra (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 22 [06 Aug 11] L 20-21 v Broncos (A). [BE]
[View] Round 23 [13 Aug 11] W 20-12 v Knights (H). [PR]
[View] Round 24 [20 Aug 11] W 26-12 v Panthers (A). [PR]
[View] Round 25 [28 Aug 11] L 22-26 v Dragons (A). [PR]
[View] Round 26 [03 Sep 11] W 18-6 v North Qld (H). [PR]
[View] Finals Week 1 [10 Sep 11] L 10-40 v Brisbane. [PR]
[View] Finals Week 2 [16 Sep 11] W 22-20 v Wests Tigers. [BE]
======================================================================================================
2011 International Test Matches
New Zealand
1 games; [View] Bill Kelly Cup [06 May 11] L 10-20 v Australia (A). [PR]
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2010 NRL Telstra Premiership
New Zealand Warriors
15 games; 1 tries, 4 points.
[View] Round 1 [14 Mar 10] L 18-24 v Titans (A). [PR]
[View] Round 2 [20 Mar 10] W 30-16 v Sharks (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 3 [28 Mar 10] W 48-16 v Broncos (A). [BE]
[View] Round 4 [04 Apr 10] L 6-14 v Sea Eagles (H). [BE]
[View] Round 5 [10 Apr 10] W 30-24 v Bulldogs (A). [PR]
[View] Round 6 [18 Apr 10] L 12-40 v Panthers (H). [PR]
[View] Round 7 [25 Apr 10] L 6-40 v Storm (A). [PR]
[View] Round 8 [01 May 10] L 16-23 v Raiders (H). [PR]
[View] Round 10 [15 May 10] W 24-12 v Cowboys (H). [PR]
[View] Round 11 [23 May 10] W 26-24 v Rabbitohs (H). [PR]
[View] Round 22 [07 Aug 10] W 37-10 v Sharks (A). [BE]
[View] Round 23 [15 Aug 10] W 22-10 v Knights (H). [BE]
[View] Round 24 [21 Aug 10] L 16-19 v Sea Eagles (A). [BE]
[View] Round 26 [04 Sep 10] W 26-12 v Eels (A). [PR]
[View] Finals Week 1 [10 Sep 10] L 16-28 v Titans. [PR]
======================================================================================================
2010 International Test Matches
New Zealand
1 games; [View] Anzac Test Match [07 May 10] L 8-12 v Australia (A). [PR]
======================================================================================================
2009 NRL Telstra Premiership
New Zealand Warriors
23 games; 2 tries, 8 points.
[View] Round 1 [14 Mar 09] W 26-18 v Eels (H). [BE]
[View] Round 2 [22 Mar 09] W 26-24 v Sea Eagles (A). [PR]
[View] Round 3 [28 Mar 09] L 10-26 v Broncos (H). [BE]
[View] Round 4 [05 Apr 09] L 16-22 v Rabbitohs (H). [PR]
[View] Round 5 [12 Apr 09] L 22-24 v Knights (A). [PR]
[View] Round 6 [19 Apr 09] W 17-16 v Roosters (H). [PR]
[View] Round 7 [25 Apr 09] D 14-14 v Storm (A). [BE]
[View] Round 10 [17 May 09] L 12-34 v Cowboys (H). [BE]
[View] Round 11 [24 May 09] L 12-38 v Raiders (A). [BE]
[View] Round 12 [31 May 09] W 14-0 v Tigers (H). [PR]
[View] Round 13 [07 Jun 09] L 10-18 v Sharks (A). [PR]
[View] Round 14 [12 Jun 09] W 13-0 v Knights (H). [PR]
[View] Round 16 [27 Jun 09] L 12-28 v Titans (A). [PR]
[View] Round 17 [03 Jul 09] L 14-28 v Broncos (A). [PR]
[View] Round 18 [12 Jul 09] L 14-18 v Bulldogs (H). [PR]
[View] Round 19 [19 Jul 09] W 30-24 v Roosters (A). [PR]
[View] Round 20 [26 Jul 09] L 4-29 v Dragons (H). [PR]
[View] Round 21 [01 Aug 09] D 32-32 v Panthers (A). [PR]
[View] Round 22 [09 Aug 09] L 10-30 v Titans (H). [PR]
[View] Round 23 [15 Aug 09] L 4-40 v Eels (A). [PR]
[View] Round 24 [23 Aug 09] W 34-20 v Raiders (H). [PR]
[View] Round 25 [30 Aug 09] L 20-40 v Bulldogs (A). [PR] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 26 [05 Sep 09] L 0-30 v Storm (H). [PR]
======================================================================================================
2008 World Cup
New Zealand
4 games; [View] Pool A [26 Oct 08] L 6-30 v Australia. [BE]
[View] Pool A [01 Nov 08] W 48-6 v PNG. [BE]
[View] Semi Finals [15 Nov 08] W 32-22 v England. [BE]
[View] Final [22 Nov 08] W 34-20 v Australia. [BE]
======================================================================================================
2008 NRL Telstra Premiership
New Zealand Warriors
26 games; 2 tries, 8 points.
[View] Round 1 [17 Mar 08] L 18-32 v Storm (A). [PR]
[View] Round 2 [23 Mar 08] W 30-16 v Eels (H). [PR]
[View] Round 3 [31 Mar 08] L 6-52 v Sea Eagles (A). [PR]
[View] Round 4 [06 Apr 08] W 26-20 v Knights (H). [PR]
[View] Round 5 [13 Apr 08] W 36-16 v Bulldogs (H). [PR]
[View] Round 6 [19 Apr 08] L 20-48 v Cowboys (A). [PR]
[View] Round 7 [27 Apr 08] L 24-36 v Gold Coast (A). [PR]
[View] Round 8 [04 May 08] W 14-6 v Raiders (H). [PR]
[View] Round 10 [18 May 08] L 22-46 v Panthers (A). [PR]
[View] Round 11 [25 May 08] L 12-38 v Roosters (H). [PR]
[View] Round 12 [31 May 08] W 18-16 v Knights (A). [PR]
[View] Round 13 [06 Jun 08] L 28-35 v Rabbitohs (H). [PR]
[View] Round 14 [14 Jun 08] L 8-24 v Sharks (A). [BE]
[View] Round 15 [22 Jun 08] L 14-20 v Sea Eagles (H). [BE]
[View] Round 16 [29 Jun 08] W 28-26 v Tigers (A). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 18 [12 Jul 08] W 24-14 v Cowboys (H). [BE]
[View] Round 19 [19 Jul 08] W 40-22 v Bulldogs (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 20 [27 Jul 08] W 8-6 v Storm (H). [BE]
[View] Round 21 [02 Aug 08] L 16-18 v Rabbitohs (A). [BE]
[View] Round 22 [09 Aug 08] W 16-12 v Broncos (H). [BE]
[View] Round 23 [16 Aug 08] W 18-4 v Sharks (H). [BE]
[View] Round 24 [24 Aug 08] L 6-34 v Dragons (A). [BE]
[View] Round 26 [06 Sep 08] W 28-6 v Eels (A). [BE]
[View] Finals Week 1 [14 Sep 08] W 18-15 v Storm (A). [BE]
[View] Finals Week 2 [19 Sep 08] W 30-13 v Roosters (H). [BE]
[View] Finals Week 3 [27 Sep 08] L 6-32 v Sea Eagles. [BE]
======================================================================================================
2007 NRL Telstra Premiership
New Zealand Warriors
25 games; 3 tries, 12 points.
[View] Round 1 [17 Mar 07] W 34-18 v Eels (H). [BE]
[View] Round 2 [25 Mar 07] W 24-14 v Broncos (H). [BE]
[View] Round 3 [01 Apr 07] L 12-30 v Storm (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 4 [08 Apr 07] L 10-13 v Sea Eagles (A). [PR]
[View] Round 5 [15 Apr 07] W 34-14 v Cowboys (H). [SR]
[View] Round 7 [29 Apr 07] W 18-16 v Rabbitohs (A). [BE]
[View] Round 8 [05 May 07] L 20-22 v Sharks (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t (39th)
[View] Round 9 [12 May 07] L 18-24 v Knights (A). [PR]
[View] Round 10 [20 May 07] L 26-30 v Tigers (H). [PR]
[View] Round 11 [28 May 07] L 6-30 v Eels (A). [BE]
[View] Round 12 [03 Jun 07] L 20-40 v Bulldogs (H). [PR]
[View] Round 13 [10 Jun 07] L 2-4 v Storm (H). [BE]
[View] Round 14 [16 Jun 07] W 12-2 v Sharks (A). [BE]
[View] Round 15 [22 Jun 07] W 54-14 v Panthers (H). [BE]
[View] Round 16 [30 Jun 07] W 22-6 v Gold Coast (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 17 [07 Jul 07] L 12-18 v Cowboys (A). [BE]
[View] Round 18 [15 Jul 07] W 44-16 v Dragons (H). [PR]
[View] Round 19 [22 Jul 07] W 28-16 v Tigers (A). [PR]
[View] Round 20 [28 Jul 07] W 52-10 v Knights (H). [PR]
[View] Round 21 [05 Aug 07] D 31-31 v Roosters (A). [PR]
[View] Round 22 [11 Aug 07] W 30-6 v Titans (H). [PR]
[View] Round 23 [18 Aug 07] L 24-26 v Raiders (A). [PR]
[View] Round 24 [26 Aug 07] W 36-14 v Sea Eagles (H). [PR]
[View] Round 25 [01 Sep 07] W 24-20 v Panthers (A). [PR]
[View] Finals Week 2 [16 Sep 07] L 12-49 v Cowboys (A). [PR]
======================================================================================================
2007 International Test Matches
New Zealand
2 games; [View] Bundaberg Rum Test [20 Apr 07] L 6-30 v Australia (A). [BE]
[View] Centenary Test [14 Oct 07] L 0-58 v Australia (H). [BE]
======================================================================================================
2006 NRL Telstra Premiership
New Zealand Warriors
10 games; [View] Round 11 [20 May 06] W 34-12 v Tigers (H). [BE]
[View] Round 12 [27 May 06] L 20-34 v Sharks (A). [BE]
[View] Round 14 [11 Jun 06] W 22-12 v Roosters (A). [BE]
[View] Round 17 [01 Jul 06] W 28-22 v Panthers (H). [BE]
[View] Round 21 [29 Jul 06] L 6-36 v Panthers (A). [BE]
[View] Round 22 [05 Aug 06] W 12-10 v Sharks (H). [BE]
[View] Round 23 [12 Aug 06] W 26-0 v Cowboys (H). [BE]
[View] Round 24 [19 Aug 06] W 24-20 v Storm (A). [BE]
[View] Round 25 [27 Aug 06] W 42-16 v Roosters (H). [BE]
[View] Round 26 [03 Sep 06] L 12-36 v Broncos (A). [BE]
======================================================================================================
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Rapira, Sam
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