Aaron Raper
{{short description|Australia international rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2011}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Aaron Raper
|fullname = Aaron Raper
|image =
|caption =
|position = {{Rlp|HK}}
|currentclub =
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1971|07|28}}
|birth_place = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
|height =
|weight =
|club1 = Cronulla-Sutherland
|year1start = 1990
|year1end = 95
|appearances1 = 57
|tries1 = 7
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 28
|club2 = Parramatta Eels
|year2start = 1996
|year2end = 98
|appearances2 = 39
|tries2 = 4
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 16
|club3 = Castleford Tigers
|year3start = 1999
|year3end = 01
|appearances3 = 59
|tries3 = 7
|goals3 = 0
|fieldgoals3 = 0
|points3 = 33
|teamA = Australia
|yearAstart = 1995
|yearAend =
|appearancesA = 1
|triesA = 1
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 4
|teamB = New South Wales
|yearBstart = 1997
|yearBend =
|appearancesB = 1
|triesB = 0
|goalsB = 0
|fieldgoalsB = 0
|pointsB = 0
|updated = 22 January 2019
|new = yes
| module = {{infobox person
| embed = yes
| father = Johnny Raper
| mother =
| spouse =
| education =
| alma_mater =
| relatives = Ron Raper (uncle)
Gerard Raper (uncle)
Peter Raper (uncle)
Maurie Raper (uncle)
Stuart Raper (brother)
}}
}}
Aaron Raper (born 28 July 1971) is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. His position of choice was {{rlp|hk}} although he could also fill other spots in the team.
Raper played in Australia for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and Parramatta Eels{{cite web|url=http://www.yesterdayshero.com.au/PlayerProfile_Aaron-Raper_10966.aspx |title=Player Profile - Aaron Raper |work=yesterdayshero.com.au |accessdate=27 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091004030031/http://www.yesterdayshero.com.au/PlayerProfile_Aaron-Raper_10966.aspx |archivedate=4 October 2009}} and in England for the Castleford Tigers.{{cite web|url=http://www.thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/playerprofile.php?pid=107|title=Aaron Raper|work=thecastlefordtigers.co.uk|accessdate=27 January 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615054709/http://www.thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/playerprofile.php?pid=107|archive-date=15 June 2012}}
Background
Raper is the son of rugby league immortal Johnny Raper and the brother of former Cronulla Sharks head coach Stuart Raper.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2016/10/21/13kangaroos-who-never-played-origin/ |title=13 Kangaroos who never played Origin |publisher=NRL |date=21 October 2016 |access-date=7 May 2024}}
Playing career
Raper was graded by the Cronulla Sharks in 1989. He made his first grade debut in his side's 34−0 loss to the Illawarra Steelers in round 21 of the 1990 season. Numerous injury problems, including a blood clot that prevented him playing a single game in first grade during the 1994 season, severely affected his career and prevented him from achieving the status predicted after a fine season with Cronulla in 1992.Rugby League Week, 2 September 1992 (Round 22)
He also represented Australia at the 1995 World Cup, and was selected as an interchange player to represent New South Wales in one game of the 1997 State of Origin series but did not take the field.{{cite news
|last = GLENN JACKSON AND CHRIS BARRETT
|title = Not all were Greats
|work = The Sydney Morning Herald
|place =Australia
|publisher = Fairfax
|date = 22 May 2010
|url = http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/money-no-worry-for-bears-20100521-w1rn.html
|accessdate = 2010-05-21|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100524154705/http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/money-no-worry-for-bears-20100521-w1rn.html|archivedate= 24 May 2010 |url-status= live}}
At Parramatta, Raper was in the 1997 and 1998 sides which made the finals series. Raper's final first grade game in Australia was the infamous 1998 preliminary final against Canterbury. With Parramatta leading 18–2 with 10 minutes to play, it seemed the club was destined to meet Brisbane the following week in the decider but Canterbury managed to stage an incredible comeback and go on to win the match 32–20 in extra time.
Raper then moved to England to play with Castleford and spent 3 seasons with the club before retiring at the end of 2001.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2015/09/24/top-10-preliminary-final-heartbreaks/|title=Top 10 preliminary final heartbreaks|website=www.nrl.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bulldogs.com.au/news/2014/08/12/memorable-match-1998-preliminary-final/|title=Memorable Match: 1998 Preliminary Final|website=www.bulldogs.com.au}}
Post playing
In 2010, Raper was the captain-coach of the Collegians club in the Illawarra Rugby League.{{cite web|url=http://www.collegians.com.au/rugby-league/senior.html|title=Collegians Rugby League Football Club Ltd|year=2010|work=collegians.com.au|accessdate=27 January 2010|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100228165946/http://www.collegians.com.au/rugby-league/senior.html|archivedate= 28 February 2010 |url-status=dead}} He previously coached the Cronulla Sharks Jersey Flegg Cup team{{cite web|url=http://www.saveoursharkies.com/coaches/Aaron_Raper/sort_season_asc_1/ |title=Aaron Raper |work=Sharks Forever |accessdate=27 January 2010}}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}} and the University of Wollongong Bulls.{{cite news|url=http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/bulls-name-raper/765950.aspx|title=Bulls name Raper|last=Gandon|first=Mike|date=8 May 2008|work=illawarramercury.com.au|accessdate=27 January 2010}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Australia 1995 Rugby League World Cup Squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Raper, Aaron}}
Category:Australia national rugby league team players
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:Australian expatriate rugby league players in England
Category:Castleford Tigers players
Category:Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks players
Category:New South Wales City Origin rugby league team players
Category:Parramatta Eels players
Category:Rugby league players from Sydney
Category:New South Wales rugby league team players
{{Australia-rugbyleague-bio-1970s-stub}}