There's no bigger challenge than facing ladder leaders: Croker
The Parramatta Eels, the Melbourne Storm, the Sydney Roosters, the South Sydney Rabbitohs. All heavyweights in the NRL. The Raiders have had to face them all in the past six weeks.
But Canberra Raiders captain Jarrod Croker says that, at present, there is no bigger challenge than facing the ladder leading Penrith Panthers.
And that's the challenge in front of the Green Machine on Saturday night when they travel to Panthers Stadium.
"We've had some really big challenges," Croker said on Wednesday.
"It seems to be that when we've had a big match, we've played really well. We haven't won all of them. We went to golden point against the Eels."
"We're certainly standing up in the big matches, but it's about winning them now as well."
"But top of the ladder, there's no bigger challenge at the moment in the competition. It's a big match, so hopefully the big guns stand up."
"We've got to go down there with that mindset that we want to beat the best. And we have to be at our best if we do want to beat them."
Croker is pleased that the Raiders have still been coming away with the competiton points, even though the Green Machine has not always been firing on all cylinders.
"We haven't played our best in a couple of those games and we've still won, Croker said.
"I think that's a positive sign for the back end of the season. You don't want to be peaking in the middle of the season. You just need to be winning games, and working our way up towards the top four and competing towards the back end of the year."
"There have been a few scrappy ones, a few tight ones. Most of our wins have been by six less points or eight or less points. Which is pleasing. Tight wins, tough wins, gritty wins, ugly wins... it doesn't matter how we get them, we've just got to keep getting them. To keep building our footy and keep getting better as the year goes on, and hopefully play our best at the back end of the year."
Croker welcomed the return of a number of troops from injury, with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Michael Oldfield available for the clash with the Panthers. Nicoll-Klokstad suffered a compound finger dislocation against the Rabbitohs in Round 11, but will be back after just a week on the sidelines.
"The initial thought was it would be a couple of weeks, so it's good to see him [Nicoll-Klokstad] back. He trained yesterday and got through it fine, so I think he's right to go," Croker said.
"Even having Oldy [Michael Oldfield] back as well, it adds to the depth. We're starting to look like a really strong side again."
"Johnny [Bateman] and Curtis [Scott] were back playing well last week. Corey [Harawira-Naera] came in and played well in his first game. Now getting Charnze and Oldy back, it's a welcome return."
Croker said he'll need to be at his best when he faces former Raiders centre, Brent Naden, on Saturday.
"He's a good player Nado [Brent Naden]. He's always had a lot of talent and a lot of ability," Croker said.
"He showed when he was here playing with the juniors and Mounties, he's a special talent. They're playing well across the whole park, so it's hard to nail it down to one bloke. But obviously, I'm marking up against him. So I'm looking forward to that challenge. He's been playing some good footy."
Croker's goal kicking form is back to his best in 2020 - and it proved the difference in the Raiders' two point win over the Cowboys last weekend.
"It's nice to knock a couple over and it always makes you feel pretty nice when it does come down to that in the end."
A report for The Greenhouse
VIDEO: Croker: There's no bigger challenge for us this week:
https://www.raiders.com.au/news/2020/08 ... this-week/
