Croker doesn't want to be pity pick for Raiders

With his NRL career approaching its last act, Canberra legend Jarrod Croker says he doesn’t want to be picked on sentiment for the Green Machine’s elimination final against Newcastle.

Croker will hang up his boots whenever the Raiders’ season ends with the club’s try and points scoring records to his name from a 307-game Canberra career.

The thought of Croker finishing his time with Canberra at NRL level seemed a long shot at the start of the season due to his struggles with knee and shoulder issues.

That was until senior Canberra players asked for coach Ricky Stuart to recall Croker in round six of this year. He has subsequently defied the odds to make 15 appearances in 2023.

“I feel like what I’ve achieved this year, it’s not been the ideal circumstances to do it in but it’s better than what I was looking at,” Croker told AAP.

Even with his return to NRL action, things haven’t been all plain sailing for Croker.

He was controversially rested by Stuart so he could play his 300th game at home, which the Raiders lost to the Warriors.

In round 26, in his final home game, Croker was named on the bench for the first time in his career.

He only saw three minutes of game time in the dying moments when Brisbane had victory wrapped up, in a disappointing end for one of Canberra’s favourite sons.

“It was a weird one, not getting on until the 80th minute,” Croker said.

“It was a different feeling but if you'd asked me how I’d feel at the start of the year in my final home game, I'd have said I'd be balling my eyes out.

“Because I didn’t get on it had a different feeling, it was a tough one to get emotional for.”

Sebastian Kris’s five-game suspension has opened the door for 32-year-old Croker to return to Stuart’s gameday 17 against the Knights on Sunday.

Croker was named on the bench for the Raiders’ final round clash with Cronulla, only to be dropped altogether before kick-off.

Asked if he wanted to be picked on merit rather than sentiment, Croker said: “That’s human nature. 

"I don’t like being on the bench. I don’t think many people do and I’ve never been on there either.

"At the same time, I’ll do whatever is best for the team.” 

Aside from losing Kris to suspension, Canberra are without Corey Horsburgh and Josh Papalii but Croker said the us-against-the-world mentality played into Stuart's hands. 

"Theyre going for 10 in a row and Kalyn Ponga's on fire," Croker added.

"Nobody is expecting us to win, so we've got to go up there and try and spoil the party."

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store