Rookie Lachlan Croker already being compared to the likes of Laurie Daley at the Canberra Raiders

THE one thing people hate you doing in this game is comparing a promising player today to a champion of yesteryear. But down at Canberra Lachlan Croker is being stacked up against one of the greats.

THE one thing people hate you doing in this game is comparing a promising player today to a champion of yesteryear.

But down at Canberra there’s a young kid who will take the field this weekend wearing the No. 6 jumper who reminds so many people of one of the Raiders’ favourite sons and an all-time great of the game.

Lachlan Croker is no Laurie Daley - yet.

Former Canberra Raider Jason Croker with his nephew Lachlan Croker. Picture: Andrew Taylor

But at 19, he’s super talented, Crookwell country tough, big and mature beyond his years.

Today he’ll get his chance to show the Raiders’ fans why’s he’s going to be a massive part of the club’s future when running out against the Sydney Roosters.

Coach Ricky Stuart has always been a big fan of Croker, and even with Aidan Sezer, Blake Austin and Sam Williams in his roster, still made sure he extended the teenage playmaker’s deal through to the end of 2017.

Croker has only got his chance after a double injury blow to Austin and Sezer last week. Sezer scored two tries in the 30-22 victory over Penrith, and bravely played most of the game with a fractured eye socket.

Stuart could have gone with someone like Jack Wighton at five-eighth to partner Williams for the Chooks’ clash, but he had enough faith in Croker.

The nephew of Raiders’ legend Jason Croker - but no relation to current captain Jarrod Croker - Lachlan will do his best to give Roosters’ rookie opposites Jackson Hastings and Jayden Nikorima a horror day out in the nation’s capital.

Laurie Daley in action for the Raiders in 1995.

Laurie Daley in action for the Raiders in 1996.

“He’s a really good young fella who is very mature for his age,’ Stuart told The Saturday Telegraph.

“He slotted into our fulltime squad last year and handled himself extremely well.

“He’s had a couple of shoulder problems from probably being too courageous when he was coming through. He certainly gets in front of everyone, which is what you want when you defend in that position - he certainly doesn’t hide in defence.

“He’s from good stock with his family and uncle Jason.

“He’s a local boy who is a big part of our future.’’

The Raiders have a huge pack, but the Roosters’ own towering two-metre enforcer Kane Evans is eager to make amends from last week’s flogging against South Sydney.

The Bunnies pack enjoyed good early possession and steamrolled their way up the middle, which was something that didn’t sit too well with Evans and his starting prop partner Dylan Napa.

Meanwhile, reports surfaced this week the Raiders had been able to lure Parramatta prop Junior Paulo from next year on a mega deal, but after several Canberra-bound players back-flipped on deals over the years, including Wests Tigers’ superstar James Tedesco, club officials have refused to be drawn on their latest prized signing.