Raiders aiming for record crowd as Croker joins NRL 300 club

It’s hard to believe after 299 NRL games, 138 tries, 888 goals and a staggering career total of 2,315 points that Canberra Raiders centre Jarrod Croker has never played Origin football for New South Wales.

But these things happen.

Just ask Alex Johnston, who recently overtook another South Sydney Rabbitohs superstar, Nathan Merritt, as the club’s all-time leading tryscorer.

Merritt retired a decade ago with 146 tries for Souths but managed to play one State of Origin game for New South Wales in 2013.

ALSO: Will NSW dump James Tedesco for Origin II in Brisbane?

Croker and Johnston must surely be two of the best scorers to have never played Origin football.

Together they’ve scored over 500 tries and combined for a staggering 3,027 points.

Croker, 32, will become only the 48th player in 115 years to reach the remarkable 300-game milestone.

The kid from Goulburn in NSW, who grew up playing soccer and cricket but always wanted to be a rugby league goalkicker, will celebrate his 300th game against the New Zealand Warriors on Friday night in front of a massive GIO Stadium crowd.

An emotion-charged Ricky Stuart made sure Croker’s magical milestone would be played out in front of his wife Brittney, his sons Rory and Tate, his mum and dad, and Raiders fans at the club’s home ground.

Only two players in history – Melbourne Storm hero Cameron Smith (2,786) and Canterbury Bulldogs super boot Hazem El Masri (2,418) – have accumulated more points in their careers than Croker.

It takes a very special player in such a physically damaging game as rugby league to make it into the 300 club.

Stuart rested Croker from last week’s game against the Wests Tigers because, in his heart, he wanted the club’s all-time leading pointscorer to play his 300th game in front of a full house in recognition of his loyalty and contribution.

“We want to break the ground record,” said Stuart, urging fans to come along and make it a night to remember for Croker.

Croker’s teammates, who were all behind his recall to first grade in round six against the Brisbane Broncos earlier this year, fully supported Stuart’s decision to rest the veteran.

He would have made it well before now but for a number of serious injuries along the journey.

Now he joins an exclusive club headed by the aforementioned Smith, who holds the record for the most number of NRL games played at 420.

Next on the list are Queensland greats Cooper Cronk (372) and Darren Lockyer (355).

Others include champions Brad Fittler (336), Cliff Lyons (332), Nathan Hindmarsh (330), Andrew Ettingshausen (328), Johnathan Thurston (323), Billy Slater (319) Petero Civoniceva (309), and Kiwi warhorse Simon Mannering (301).

Croker will be the second player in the past month to be welcomed into the club, after St George Illawarra Dragons star Ben Hunt played his 300th game recently.

“Jarrod becomes only the second player in our club’s history to have reached 300 games for the Raiders and we wanted to make sure he had the opportunity to do it in front of all the people who have made his wonderful career possible,” said Stuart.

“Jarrod is already the club’s leading tryscorer and pointscorer and will join Jason Croker (318 games) as our only 300-game player.

“We want to make this moment special for him.”

Croker grew up in Goulburn in country NSW and lived next door to a soccer field.

He would kick footballs over the top of the soccer goalpost, imagining he was kicking goals in rugby league.

“I always wanted to be a goalkicker,” Croker said.

“Playing footy with all the kids, kicking goals, and playing cricket, was my life growing up in Goulburn.

“To now be playing my 300th game in front of my family and friends is very special and something to be very proud of.”

Croker has a special bond with Jack Wighton, who has played all his 231 NRL games for the Raiders but is leaving the club at the end of the season to link with South Sydney.

“To share this with Jack is very, very special and a memory I will cherish,” he said.

Can he go on next season and overtake distant cousin Jason as Canberra’s most-capped player on 318 games?

“I am 32, the body feels good, so I’ll just play every game like it’s my last,” he said.

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