NRL: Raiders skipper Jarrod Croker urges Green Machine bandwagon to grow

The "no vacancy" sign is about to go up on the Canberra Raiders bandwagon but skipper Jarrod Croker has upped coach Ricky Stuart's bet by urging 20,000 to pack Canberra Stadium on Sunday.

Raiders skipper Jarrod Croker charges into the Storm defence.Credit: Getty Images

A huge crowd of 15,707 packed the ground to watch Canberra's 22-8 suffocation of fellow top four side Melbourne Storm on Monday night.

It is the second-biggest Monday night crowd for any NRL game this year, and the most for a Raiders home game in the time slot since early 2007.

Stuart implored at least 15,000 people to attend the Storm game and the Green Machine faithful delivered with the biggest home crowd since Canberra beat Cronulla in the 2012 finals.

Croker, in his second year as Raiders skipper, said the "18th man" was a major factor behind their best defensive effort in years.

He believes they're capable of hitting the 20,000 mark against Parramatta on Sunday for the first time in 1437 days when a sell-out crowd of 24,450 watched their last home finals appearance against the Sharks four years ago.

"We've got another massive game on our hands and I'd like to see 20,000 here," Croker said.

"It [the Storm crowd] was phenomenal, they get us over the line and get us back in the game.

"When the boys are flying off the line and putting shots on it's so loud and it's a really good feeling, we thrive off it.

"We should be looking for up around 20 [thousand], Sunday arvo against Parramatta."

Croker said after Stuart issued a rally cry to Raiders fans, they felt a need to uphold their end of the bargain.

The Raiders have attracted more than 13,000 fans to home games just four times since the start of the 2013 season.

Three of those have come this year due to Canberra's winning form, against Canterbury (13,907) in round 12 and Wests Tigers (13,420) in round eight.

"We asked for 15,000 so we had to put in a good effort for them," he said.

"As skipper leading the boys out in front of that crowd, it's the best crowd I've led them out to numbers-wise at home.

"It definitely got me going, and got the boys up."

Croker said the defensive effort was "up there" with the best he's seen in his eight seasons with the club.

"They had a fair bit of ball [56 per cent] and they have such great players in their side, to turn them away time after time is a big buzz for us," he said.

"Definitely we are [taking more pride in defence] and we talk about not being the one to let your mate down and showing urgency.

"It makes our job so much easier on the edge when they're getting up and putting pressure on, it forces them to play earlier.

"They [middle third] are just hungry and play with attitude and that's what you need in there.

"Sometimes we do miss a tackle on the edge but the blokes on the inside are covering it and saving our arse.

"We've got a side [Parramatta] coming her next week who refuse to give in."

SUNDAY

NRL round 24: Canberra Raiders v Parramatta Eels at Canberra Stadium, 2pm

Tickets available from Ticketek

TV: Live on Fox Sports 1

RAIDERS' BIGGEST HOME CROWDS SINCE 2013

Round 22, 2016: 15,707 against Melbourne

Round 12, 2016: 13,907 against Canterbury

Round 8, 2016: 13,420 against Wests Tigers

Round 23, 2015: 13,113 against Manly

Round 26, 2014: 13,706 against Parramatta