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Jarrod Croker will stay on track to break yet more Canberra records with contract extension looming

Jarrod Croker already holds a swag of Canberra records and with the club keen to extend his contract the Raiders skipper could add even more.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 12: Jarrod Croker of the Raiders has this attempted try disallowed during the round nine NRL match between the Sydney Roosters and the Canberra Raiders at Suncorp Stadium on May 12, 2019 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 12: Jarrod Croker of the Raiders has this attempted try disallowed during the round nine NRL match between the Sydney Roosters and the Canberra Raiders at Suncorp Stadium on May 12, 2019 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Jarrod Croker has ticked off almost every Canberra Raiders record in the book but there is one he is yet to achieve.

The Raiders captain has scored most tries (121), most points in a season (296) and most points for the club.

Now Croker is chasing down Jason Croker’s mark of 318 games as the most capped Canberra player in the club’s 37-year history.

The outside back from Goulburn is on 247 games heading into Sunday’s match against a resurgent Panthers outfit in Penrith.

Croker is the most experienced player at the club. Photo by Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images.
Croker is the most experienced player at the club. Photo by Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images.

That leaves Croker with 66 games to surpass Croker and become the most experienced Green Machine player ever in a franchise that has produced some of the greatest footballers of the modern era in Laurie Daley, Mal Meninga and Ruben Wiki.

It would be a remarkable achievement for a player who has never appeared on the representative stage for his state or country.

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Croker already holds a series of records. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images.
Croker already holds a series of records. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images.

But with time and fitness on his side, Croker is in line to reach the Raiders’ most games mark.

The 28-year-old has previously declared he wants to play until he is 34, meaning barring injury he will don the boots until at least the 2025 season.

This would ensure the classy outside back moves past Croker’s 318 games and into the Raiders’ record books.

Croker is contracted until the end of the 2020 season but he is a free agent from November 1 this year.

The Raiders view their skipper as a one-club player and will move to secure him on a long-term deal.

Canberra CEO Don Furner told The Sunday Telegraph that Croker will round out his career in lime green.

Croker is the captain of Canberra. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images.
Croker is the captain of Canberra. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images.

“We’d love to see Jarrod finish his career at the Raiders and that is what should happen,” Furner said.

“We think he will continue, and touch wood, break lots more records.

“He is just so humble about it which is what everyone loves about him.

“He doesn’t look for attention. There are others that do but Jarrod is just a very down-to-earth country boy – that is why everyone is so happy for him.”

Croker won’t go down as Canberra’s best player given the club has been littered with Immortals, Kangaroos and Origin stars.

Despite this, he will be remembered as a fan favourite and one of the franchise’s most consistent players.

According to Furner, Croker also deserves praise for his resilience when the Raiders weren’t winning.

Since making his debut in 2009, Canberra have only made the finals on three occasions.

“Jarrod came through during a tough period at the club,” he said.

“Mal, Laurie and Dave (Furner) came through during a winning time for the Raiders over 10 years.

“The club hasn’t had those winning years all the time.

“Jarrod started when Canberra was finishing 10th and 12th but he has stuck through and he is still there today.”

Originally published as Jarrod Croker will stay on track to break yet more Canberra records with contract extension looming

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/raiders/jarrod-croker-will-stay-on-track-to-break-yet-more-canberra-records-with-contract-extension-looming/news-story/0a63857625f1db027a0d26eabaf40a70