Jordan Rapana
A late-blooming rugby league flyer whose blistering pace and try-scoring prowess made him a fan favorite in Australia's NRL.
Born 1989 (age 37)·New Zealand, Maori, and Cook Islands international rugby league footballer·Birthday: August 15·Millennials
Biography
Jordan Rapana's path to professional rugby league stardom was anything but linear. The New Zealand-born back spent his early career bouncing between rugby union and league, even attempting a stint as a professional rugby sevens player. It wasn't until he landed with the Canberra Raiders in 2014 that his career truly ignited. There, he formed one of the most electrifying wing partnerships in the NRL with Joey Leilua, his raw speed and fearless aerial ability making him a constant try-scoring threat. Rapana's game was defined by relentless effort; he was known for chasing down seemingly impossible kicks and turning broken plays into points. His international career was a tapestry of heritage, representing the Cook Islands, New Zealand Māori, and finally earning a coveted cap for the New Zealand Kiwis in 2017. After a prolific stint in Canberra, he finished his playing days in the English Super League, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most exciting and hard-working outside backs of his era.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jordan was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jordan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Jordan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored 88 tries in 149 games for the Canberra Raiders, becoming one of the club's most prolific wingers.
- Won the Dally M Try of the Year award in 2016 for a spectacular last-minute effort against the Melbourne Storm.
- Earned a cap for the New Zealand national rugby league team (the Kiwis) in 2017.
- Represented three different international sides: the Cook Islands, New Zealand Māori, and New Zealand.
Did You Know?
He played rugby union for the Brumbies in Super Rugby before switching codes to league full-time.
He is a qualified electrician and worked in the trade during the early stages of his football career.
He served a two-year religious mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Queensland, Australia.
His sister, Brook, is a professional netball player.
“I had to go to the other side of the world to find my best footy.”
