Raiders coach Ricky Stuart paid Jarrod Croker the ultimate compliment after Friday’s 34-30 win over the Bulldogs as the veteran centre inches closer to his 300th NRL game.
Croker has been painfully close to the milestone for a couple of years now only for injuries and form to threaten his chance of reaching it.
The 32-year-old carried debilitating knee pain during the 2021 season, forcing him to undergo stem-cell surgery in a bid to save his career.
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He fought hard to get back onto the field but spent much the start of 2022 in reserve grade before a shoulder injury in June ended his season.
He vowed to return — even if Stuart suggested retirement, as the Raiders coach revealed — and he did in Round 1, albeit in New South Wales Cup.
But Croker earned a call-up to the NRL side in Round 6 after several of Canberra’s senior players told Stuart they wanted to play alongside him.
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Croker is now just four games away from the big milestone — and is doing everything possible to ensure he gets there.
One person that will be elated if he does is Stuart, who had nothing but kind words to say about the co-captain.
“I love ‘Toots’ (Croker). I’ve said this enough times in the media before, if your children could have the integrity of Jarrod Croker, you’ll have wonderful kids,” Stuart said.
“He’s a great bloke, a great captain.
Stuart is “so happy” to see Croker back “healthy” and in the 17 because he is “creating a difference” in the Raiders’ performances.
He also went on to reveal that he broached the subject of retirement with Croker partly because of the load of pre-season, but also because he didn’t want to have to force a club legend to sit in reserve grade.
“He’s doing a really good job because his body has copped a hammering over the last two years,” Stuart said.
“I don’t mind saying it, I’ve asked ‘Toots’ to retire because his body was just not coping with the loads and he was in a position there where… I was feeling the pain that he was under when we were doing all the tough work at training and he couldn’t do it.
“He has persisted and persisted and persisted. To his credit, he said ‘I’m just happy to help the club and help the young blokes if I’m playing second grade’. He just loves the game.
“And good on him, if that’s his attitude and character.
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“But I didn’t want that which is why I asked him to look at retirement. I didn’t want to be the bloke picking him in second grade because I didn’t want to one, disrespect Jarrod Croker’s profile for what he’s done for this club.
“But I had to try and get him back to where he is today.
“His persistence and grind to get his body fit enough to play NRL it’s all credit to him and he’s doing a really good job.
“He’s got a very calming influence on that left edge.
“Toots’ character is (to) not to give up which is why he’s been at this club and playing for this club for so long.
“Our club are brawlers and he’s one of our two captains. We’ve been like that for 40-odd years, we’re brawlers here — we‘re not a glamour club.
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“I love coaching them because they are all good blokes… I understand why Jarrod wants to continue.
“I’m happy that he’s back. The boys tapped me on the shoulder and said they want ‘Toots’ back, and that was four-five weeks ago.
“If they want to play with a bloke. I’m only sitting in the box. They’re out there with him, they know better than me.”
Croker’s fellow captain Elliott Whitehead also lauded Croker’s attitude, saying “he could have thrown the towel in and sooked it but he worked hard.”
“Hopefully he can keep going and get his 300 games for the club because he deserves it,” Whitehead added.
If all goes to plan, Croker will play his 300th game in Round 14 against the Tigers.
