2013 Fans' Choice Player of the Year

[The Greenhouse]

2013 Fans' Choice Player of the Year


Shaun Fensom receives the 2012 Fans' Choice Award, joint winner with Blake Ferguson.

Total points

14 Jarrod Croker
13 Anthony Milford
12 Shaun Fensom
10 Reece Robinson
10 Paul Vaughan
9 Josh Papalii
9 David Shillington
9 Jack Wighton
8 Terry Campese
8 Tom Learoyd Lahrs
6 Joel Edwards
5 Josh McCrone
4 Edrick Lee
4 Sami Sauiluma
4 Brett White
3 Joel Thompson
3 Dane Tilse

* Blake Ferguson 12 disqualified

Round by round voting

Round 1 V Panthers at Canberra

3 (43 votes) Jack Wighton
2 (41 votes) Josh McCrone
1 (40 votes) Dane Tilse

Round 2 V Titans

3 (69 votes) Tom Learoyd Lahrs
2 (66 votes) Reece Robinson
1 (47 votes) Shaun Fensom

Round 3 V Dragons

3 (153 votes) Reece Robinson
2 (84 votes) Shaun Fensom
1 (67 votes) Brett White

Round 4 V Knights

3 (103 votes) Blake Ferguson
2 (69 votes) Tom Learoyd-Lahrs
1 (61 votes) Shaun Fensom

Round 5 V Roosters

3 (127 votes) Jarrod Croker
2 (101 votes) David Shillington
1 (97 votes) Sam Williams

Round 6 V Warriors

3 (102 votes) Tom Learoyd-Lahrs
2 (85 votes) Shaun Fensom
1 (64 votes) Terry Campese

Round 7 V Cowboys

3 (55 votes) Joel Thompson
2 (28 votes) Terry Campese
1 (25 votes) Edrick Lee

Round 8 V Storm

3 (144 votes) Blake Ferguson
2 (60 votes) Brett White
1 (54 votes) Jack Wighton

Round 9 V Knights

3 (185 votes) Blake Ferguson
2 (48 votes) Terry Campese
1 (34 votes) Josh Papalii

Round 10 V Sharks

3 (91 votes) Anthony Milford
2 (51 votes) Jack Wighton
1 (35 votes) Joel Edwards

Round 11 V Sea Eagles

3 (61 votes) Paul Vaughan
2 (58 votes) Edrick Lee
1 (37 votes) Josh Papalii

Round 13 V Brisbane Broncos

3 (146 votes) Terry Campese
2 (68 votes) Shaun Fensom
1 (61 votes) Edrick Lee

Round 14 V Penrith Panthers

3 (78 votes) Reece Robinson
2 (74 votes) Josh Papalii
1 (41 votes) Brett White

Round 15 V Wests Tigers
3 (57 votes) Paul Vaughan
2 (43 votes) Shaun Fensom
1 (34 votes) Dane Tilse

Round 16 V Rabbitohs
3 (86 votes) David Shillington
2 (27 votes) Sami Sauiluma
1 (25 votes) Dane Tilse

Round 17 V Cowboys
3 (104 votes) Josh Papalii
2 (97 votes) Anthony Milford
1 (30 votes) Josh McCrone

Round 19 V Eels
3 (84 votes) David Shillington
2 (63 votes) Jarrod Croker
1 (53 votes) Sami Sauiluma

Round 20 V Dragons
3 (101 votes) Jarrod Croker
2 (65 votes) Joel Edwards
1 (48 votes) Anthony Milford

Round 21 V Storm
3 (33 votes) Jack Wighton
2 (29 votes) Shaun Fensom
1 (26 votes) Anthony Milford

Round 22 V Roosters
3 (114 votes) Blake Ferguson
2 (104 votes) Josh Papalii
1 (46 votes) Anthony Milford

Round 23 V Bulldogs
3 (27 votes) Joel Edwards
2 (25 votes) Josh McCrone
1 (24 votes) Paul Vaughan

Round 24 V Sea Eagles
3 (73 votes) Anthony Milford
2 (68 votes) Reece Robinson
1 (64 votes) Paul Vaughan

Round 25 V Warriors
3 (80 votes) Jarrod Croker
2 (45 votes) Paul Vaughan
1 (23 votes) Sami Sauiluma

Round 26 V Warriors
3 (66 votes) Jarrod Croker
2 (56 votes) Anthony Milford
1 (40 votes) David Shillington

[The Greenhouse]

Jarrod Croker the winner of the 2013 Canberra Raiders Fans' Choice Award

The Canberra Raiders Fans' Choice Award winner for 2013 is centre Jarrod Croker. Croker snatched the award in the very final round of voting, with a man of the match performance. The race for the 2013 award has been one of the most closely contested in its history. Seven players were still in contention after voting for Round 25. Shaun Fensom led the voting with one round to go, but with the lock forward on the sidelines for the last four rounds, he could not defend the title he took out in 2011 and 2012. Croker well and truly came from behind, picking up six points in the last two matches of the season.



Croker was the Raiders' top pointscorer in 2013, with 136 points from eight tries and 52 goals - after being the NRL's top point scorer in 2012. Croker finished 2013 just behind fellow centre Blake Ferguson (10), winger Sandor Earl (nine) and rookie half Anthony Milford (nine) in the try scoring stakes. Croker's defence was often criticised in 2012, but improved significantly in season 2013 - with his one on one tackling impressing many. Croker was top five in the Raiders squad in tackle busts, line break assists and try assists. He was one of four Raiders selected for the Kangaroos train on squad earlier this week.

At age 23, Croker already has 116 NRL games to his name and has scored 690 career points. That makes him the fourth highest point scorer in Raiders history, behind David Furner, Clinton Schifcofske and Mal Meninga - and overtook Gary Belcher during the course of 2013. Hailing from Goulburn, Croker is a product of the Canberra Raiders juniors system, and was part of the Raiders' premiership winning Toyota Cup team of 2008.

Rookie half and fullback Anthony Milford also made a late charge in the voting, finishing just one point behind Croker. It's been a remarkable debut season for Milford, playing 18 games and scoring nine tries. He topped the Raiders' count for line breaks (17) and tackle busts (93). Fensom finished third, one of the most consistent and reliable players in the Raiders' squad. He topped the Raiders' tackle count for the season - again - with 884, and was top five for Canberra in running metres (1983m off 260 runs).

The Canberra Raiders Fans' Choice has been awarded since 2004, with the inaugural winner being Ruben Wiki. Other winners have included Jason Smith, Alan Tongue, Terry Campese and Shaun Fensom. The award, sponsored by The Greenhouse Canberra Raiders supporters site (http://www.thegh.com.au), is voted on by the fans on line, who give 3-2-1 points to the best players each week.

2013 Canberra Raiders Fans' Choice leader board

14 Jarrod Croker
13 Anthony Milford
12 Shaun Fensom
10 Reece Robinson
10 Paul Vaughan
9 Josh Papalii
9 David Shillington
9 Jack Wighton
8 Terry Campese
8 Tom Learoyd Lahrs
6 Joel Edwards
5 Josh McCrone
4 Edrick Lee
4 Sami Sauiluma
4 Brett White
3 Joel Thompson
3 Dane Tilse

* Blake Ferguson 12 disqualified