Albury Thunder has shored up its backline strength in signing a centre from New Zealand.
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Sabastian Rapana will arrive on the Border next month.
“He’s not a very big guy, but he’s got some pace,” president Rick O’Connell said.
“He’ll add that extra depth and we were probably a bit light on in the centres this year.”
Although only young, Rapana carries a strong reputation as a dangerous attacking player.
It’s been a solid off-season for the club after picking up rugged Englishman Brad Nicholson and Bombala’s grand final man of the match Luke Ingram.
He’s got some pace. He’ll add that extra depth and we were probably a bit light on in the centres this year.
- Rick O'Connell
The pair will add power to the Thunder’s pack.
The Thunder missed finals last season after a wicked run of narrow losses.
In a 16-round competition, the Thunder remarkably lost half their games by 10 points or less.
And to add to the frustration, the Border outfit hammered Gundagai 48-16 in the final round.
Gundagai won the grand final three weeks later.
The Thunder also beat another finals contender in Junee by 14 points.
In fact, the Thunder won its last three games, racking up 40 points or more.
The Thunder has played finals only once in the past four years, so it’s setting itself to push back into September action.
And the club has something all clubs strive for – stability – with coach Adrian Purtell signed for another two years.
The ex-NRL player impressed at five-eighth.
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