NRL Round one teams: Canberra Raiders dump Jarrod Croker to reserve grade for Sharks clash

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has pulled off some major selection surprises for the Cronulla clash and it could spell the end of a star’s long and illustrious career.

Jarrod Croker has been dumped to reserve grade for the opening round.

Jarrod Croker won’t be the only high profile Raider starting the season in reserve grade with Ryan Sutton expected to join his experienced teammate in NSW Cup.

Just days after telling the club he would link with the Bulldogs next season, Sutton has been left out of Canberra’s top 17 to play the Sharks on Friday night. Instead he is now likely to line-up alongside Croker in NSW Cup.

The Englishman was a mainstay of the Raiders side last year – and was just one of two players to feature in Canberra’s 22 matches.

Coach Ricky Stuart made one of the most difficult decisions of his career after informing Raiders captain Croker that he will start the season in NSW Cup.

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Jarrod Croker has been dumped to reserve grade for the opening round.

Croker, who underwent stem cell surgery on his knee late last year, is now fighting to save his career after being left out of the NRL side to play Cronulla on Friday night. The 31-year-old has played 291 first-grade games for Canberra but struggled last season with a knee problem that restricted him to only 12 games.

There was talk that his career may be brought to a premature end but Croker wanted to fight on and looked to make a successful return in the pre-season.

However, he has missed out on the side for round one. Croker is second on the all-time list of games played for Raiders, behind the 318 first-grade appearances of Jason Croker.

News Corp phoned Raiders Stuart following rumours that the club veteran would be left out of the side.

Stuart confirmed Croker would start the season in second grade.

“Jarrod is doing a lot more than he could do at training last year after the stem cell surgery,” Stuart said.

“I am really happy that he is progressing well. At this stage we would just like to give him a bit more time.”

Jarrod Croker is nine games short of the magic 300-game club.

Croker’s future is an emotional issue for Stuart because the centre desperately wants to become a 300-game, one-club player.

Few footballers have deserved the honour as much given the way Croker has worn the jersey with pride or consistency over the course of his career.

Stuart has been his coach for much of that time.

The Raiders coach has already confirmed that youngster Brad Schneider will play halfback following the loss of Jamal Fogarty to a knee injury.

Canberra’s reserve grade team play Newtown on Saturday.