New Hull FC signing Jordan Rapana has been compared to Australian rugby league legend Mal Meninga, with Canberra Raiders head coach Ricky Stuart outlining his biggest qualities.

Signing a two-year deal, Rapana has swapped Canberra for Hull for the 2025 and 2026 seasons, with the 35-year-old opting against a one-year extension at the Raiders, not to mention pushing back interest from Leeds Rhinos, to sign with the Black and Whites.

Set to play full-back for the club, the New Zealander, who has over 200 NRL appearances to his name, has been handed the number one shirt but has also been training on the wing pre-season, with Stuart documenting his competitiveness and loyalty in a feature with the NRL’s the Fan show.

READ MORE: Jack Ashworth makes clear Hull FC future stance and opens up on training focuses

READ MORE: Danny Houghton secures post-playing Hull FC coaching role as club confirm two positions

“He’s just a guy you can’t not like,” Stuart said. “If there’s a shortcut to be taken, he’ll take it, but he’s one of the most competitive footballers I’ve coached. Once he gets over the line on game day, he’s such a competitor.

“In a recent interview, I explained the impact Mal Meninga had on players; Raps is very similar. He’s a loyal person, and we’ll be friends for a long time after I finish coaching him."

Elsewhere, Rapana’s former teammates Jamal Fogarty, Josh Papalii, and Hudson Young were all asked about the Kiwi, who first played with new Hull coach John Cartwright at the Gold Coast Titans in 2008.

"He’s just so unique," Fogarty said. "I don’t think there’s many words that could describe Jordy. For example, if you were to come in on a morning with a bacon and egg burger, that’s your breakfast. He’ll say, ‘Hey bro’, and come over and have a bite out of it right away and walk off.

"He’s probably the most loving and caring person, and he’s definitely the biggest competitor on a football field that I’ve played with. His body is bashed at times, but the stuff that he gets through as a winger and some of the tries that he scores and efforts. He comes last in conditioning, but as soon as you play a game of football, he’ll be the last person chasing someone down."

Papalli continued: "Jordan is just Jordan. He doesn’t really do much extras on field. He’s the first person off the field, and he’s always getting told to not be late and pick up his towel. That’s what makes Jordan unique; he’s someone that doesn’t put much time into his footy, but he’s still a gun; he’s just the ultimate competitor, and he’s always down for the team, and that’s what makes Jordan special."

Meanwhile, Young added: "He’s very different from the guy you see on the footy field. He’s the most kicked-back guy I’ve ever seen, and he’s just a genetic freak. He doesn’t have to do any training or any weights, and he still goes out and carves it up. He’s probably the most competitive player that I’ve ever played with or against."

Click here - Get the latest news on our Rugby League Live WhatsApp channel