Jarrod Croker pinpoints two changes that rebuilt Green Wall
Long-serving Raiders skipper Jarrod Croker has given two reasons why the Raiders became a much better side this year, along with the moments he knew things were going to be different.
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Canberra co-captain Jarrod Croker has pinpointed two key defensive changes for adding a new found steel to the Raiders game.
Croker said the signing of John Bateman plus the inclusion of Jack Wighton in the frontline had helped revamp the side’s defence. The Raiders conceded 22.5 points a game last year. That number has dropped to 15.1 this year.
“We’ve always been good mates but the will to win and desire I keep pointing at Johnny Bateman,” Croker said.
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“He has brought hunger out of the English guys and all of us. I look at Jacko (Wighton) in the frontline of defence. They are the two key areas defensively which I’ve noticed turned us around this year.”
While Croker could sense in the pre-season this Raiders side was different to recent season it wasn’t until a couple of huge defensive efforts which confirmed the differences to him.
They held Gold Coast to zero in the opening round of the season and did it again to Parramatta in round five. They also shut-out the Tigers in round 13.
“The first five weeks we held two sides scoreless,” Croker said. “There was a steeliness in defence. “Once that happened I knew we were a different raiders side. We are working hard for each other.
“We won a lot of games this year, scrambling and scrapping. That’s what wins you big games. These boys don’t stop working for each other. You get what you work for. We’ve worked that hard for this.”
Croker has been the face of the Raiders for so long. He is now in his 11th season and will play in his first premiership decider.
“I’m a little bit overwhelmed,” Croker said. “I’m happy for these boys. Blokes like Pappa (Josh Papalii) and Jack have been here as long as I have.
“I love Canberra. Everywhere I went go it’s been green coffee, doughnut, muffin, pasta. Everything was green. I love this place. These guys deserve it as much as we do. It’s been a long time since we were in a grand final.”
Originally published as Jarrod Croker pinpoints two changes that rebuilt Green Wall