Canberra Raiders captain Jarrod Croker set to outscore entire Knights team
CANBERRA captain and point-scoring whiz Jarrod Croker is on track to score more points than the entire Newcastle Knights squad.
NUMBERS never lie in Canberra.
Raiders skipper Jarrod Croker has racked up the sort of dominant statistics the politicians up the road at Parliament House could only dream of.
To put Croker’s amazing tally in the NRL this season into perspective, he’s right on track to score more points than the entire Newcastle Knights squad. Croker is on 296 points. Newcastle scored 305 points over 24 rounds.
He needs only four points to become the third player in the 108-year history of rugby league to reach 300 points in a season. Just two more tries will make him become only the third Raider to post 100 career four-pointers, behind Jason Croker (120) and Brett Mullins (105).
Croker said his remarkable achievements this season only hit home this week at Canberra’s presentation night where he was awarded for smashing David Furner’s all-time club points-scoring record of 1218 and the Raiders’ previous season record of 245 set by Clinton Schifcofske in 2001.
“The points have been mentioned every now and then, but it sunk in for me on Monday night when I was presented the boots, ball and headgear for breaking the (all-time Canberra) points-scoring record,’’ Croker told The Daily Telegraph. “I did it in the St George Illawarra game. That’s something I’m proud of.
“It was Furnsie’s record. David texted me and then called. He was pleased for me. He’s still a good mate of mine and he gave me my first crack at first grade.’’
Only Hazem El Masri (342 in 2004) and Brett Hodgson (308 in 2005) have posted 300 points in one season. Both won the premiership in 2004 and ’05, respectively.
“I didn’t know that, but it would be nice to be a part of history,’’ Croker said.
“If I’m scoring points it usually means we’re winning the majority of our games.
“There are a lot of great goal-kickers out there. Of the four remaining teams, all four are high quality. Every kid dreams about kicking to win a game. I’m no different and, if it comes down to that, I’ll be fine. I’ve hit them all right the last few weeks.
“It would be nice to be ahead by a little more so I don’t have to worry about it.’’
Croker said the arrival of noted goalkicker Aidan Sezer had made him lift his own game and try to be more consistent with the boot. Super boot Daryl Halligan has continued to work with Croker. Canberra defended brilliantly against the Storm on a Monday night in round 23 and Croker knows a similar performance is required to upstage the minor premiers at AAMI Park in tomorrow’s grand final qualifier.
“We fought hard for the whole 80 that night,’’ Croker said.
“They throw a lot of attack at you, Melbourne. We have to be better than we were that Monday because they will be.’’
Originally published as Canberra Raiders captain Jarrod Croker set to outscore entire Knights team
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