'Workers were singing and dancing': Canberra Raiders tune up for NRL return

But a handful of tradies building an apartment block are doing their bit to welcome the Canberra Raiders back to action as the resumption of the NRL season draws closer.

The Raiders heard a familiar tune when they returned to their Rugby League Park base after coronavirus-related restrictions were eased last week.

The construction workers on the site next door to the club's new $19 million training facility welcomed the squad back by blasting The Mighty Green Machine through a speaker.

Canberra forward John Bateman couldn't help but nod his head to the track while a handful of his teammates put their vocal cords to work.

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The English international had to laugh when he glanced back towards the construction site to see a handful of workers dancing around scaffolding in their hi-vis kit.

"When we had training last week they were playing it, and a few of the boys were singing along," Bateman said.

"The construction workers were singing and dancing, it's a good laugh. It's good to be training here now, it's a good facility and it's good to be out on the field.

"All the boys are excited to be back in and training together, we're just getting ready for the season starting."

The NRL is slated to return on May 28 but the Raiders are yet to find out who they will play in round three of the competition, with the two rounds previously played set to stand.

Bateman is edging closer to resuming full contact work at training but concedes he is unlikely to be pulling on a lime green jersey this month as he continues rehabilitation on a shoulder issue.

One man who will be throwing himself into everything at training in the lead up to the resumption of Canberra's unbeaten 2020 campaign is Jordan Rapana.

The winger has returned to Canberra following a stint in Japanese rugby which was brought to an abrupt halt by the coronavirus outbreak.

Rapana is determined to earn a place wherever he can in Ricky Stuart's match day 17 with Nick Cotric and Bailey Simonsson on the flanks.

He knows he has a mountain of work ahead given he was confined to his home following his return to Australia, but Rapana will leave no stone unturned - even if that means playing in the forwards.

"I have covered multiple positions throughout my career. I spoke to Ricky, and we have sat down and talked about how I am there to cover wherever I'm needed," Rapana said.

"I came back a little bit heavier from union, so I'm sure I can cover the forwards if I need to be put there too. I just want to put my head down, work hard, and wherever I am needed I will play.

"No real fitness like NRL pre-season fitness where you're actually running and you've got your hands on the ball and that type of stuff.

"Because I was confined to a house and couldn't really leave the perimeter of my block, I couldn't really do much running.

"The only real running and fitness I have had since I got out of isolation, I met a few of the boys in small groups and we would do a bit of fitness.

"I'm feeling fit and definitely feeling, fresh, healthy, and ready to go."