sport, raiders, canberra raiders, rugby league representative, nrl, state of origin, jordan rapana, charnze nicoll-klokstad, pacific test

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is the newest member of the Canberra Raiders casualty ward with a hamstring strain robbing the Cook Islands of the star fullback. The Raiders fullback is unlikely to miss any NRL games but the injury will deny the Kukis of his services for a World Cup qualifier against South Africa at Ringrose Park on Friday. While Josh Papalii and Jack Wighton are bracing for State of Origin II in Perth on Sunday, Nicoll-Klokstad's withdrawal means there will be just one front-line Raider playing an international this week. Hooker Siliva Havili has been cleared to play for Tonga against the New Zealand Kiwis at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday. Absent from that clash will be Raiders duo Jordan Rapana and Joe Tapine, who have withdrawn from the Kiwis squad as they manage niggling injuries. Rapana has backed Raiders coach Ricky Stuart's club first policy as the Green Machine battle through a debilitating injury crisis. Tapine has missed seven matches due to thumb and ankle issues - the last of which he concedes is not 100 per cent - while Rapana has missed five games due to shoulder, rib and knee injuries. "That's the thing, I've only played eight out of the 13 games now so it's not ideal," Rapana said. "But at the same time they've only been little niggly injuries so it could've been a lot worse and I could've been out for months so I've got to take the positives when they come. "I'm hoping that's the end of my [injuries]. They say they come in threes, I've had three injuries this year so hopefully that's the end of it. "I'm glad to see [teammates getting representative honours] and ideally you're proud of the boys for representing their heritage in rep footy. MORE RAIDERS NEWS "But at the same time you don't want to get injured. We don't need injuries right now, we're very slim." Perhaps the only saving grace in Rapana's injury curse has been his reputation as a miraculous healer. "The boys have been calling me Wolverine," Rapana said. "I don't know what it is. I put it down to the rehab staff. They've been on my case making sure I do all the little things. Hard work pays, bro." The Raiders could welcome co-captain Josh Hodgson and forward Corey Horsburgh back into the fold against Parramatta in Darwin, with the pair to be assessed heading into round 15. Nicoll-Klokstad's absence means 22-year-old back-rower Reuben Porter will be the lone Raider in the Cook Islands squad - but there will be an extra dash of Canberra flavour. Two players have been plucked out of the Canberra Raiders Cup for a taste of the international arena. Belconnen United Sharks forward Sam Mataora has been named for the Cook Islands while Queanbeyan Kangaroos flyer Reece Robinson needs to pass a medical to suit up for Lebanon.

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