Rapana turned out for the Blues in the side’s two most recent matches against West Belconnen and the Belconnen United Scholars.

But after officially linking-up with the Canberra Raiders on Monday, the 23-year-old flyer is unlikely to be spotted in a Queanbeyan jersey again this season.

Rapana’s signing with the Raiders marks his return to the game after a four-year absence from the rugby league.

Despite some obvious rust following his prolonged break from to code, the talented outside back did enough to score two tries in his two appearances for the Blues.

And former Raiders half Herbert said Rapana would have no trouble breaking his way back into the NRL.

“It was always going to tough for him to come in with only one or two trainings under his belt but when he got the ball in his hands you could see he had the potential to be pretty devastating,” Herbert said.

“With his size, I definitely think he’s a good pick up [for the Raiders]. We put a few high balls up for him and with his height and his jump he gets up so high above everyone else.

“He’s a good ball runner and a good finisher as well so he won’t have any trouble adapting to whatever level he ends up playing.”  

This Saturday will see the Blues, sans Rapana, take on last year’s premiers Belconnen United Scholars in a heavyweight match-up between two of this year’s title favourites.

The Blues’ 22-16 victory over Goulburn last weekend means the side remains two wins clear at the top of the Canberra Raiders Cup table.

And Herbert said this weekend’s clash will provide the club the opportunity to send a message heading into the back-end of the season.

“We want to stamp ourselves on the competition and show these teams that they’re going to have to come up with something special to beat us in the finals,” Herbert said.

“At the same time, other sides are looking at us as one of the teams to beat so the Scholars will be up for it this weekend.”