Canberra Raiders legend Jarrod Croker announces retirement

[greeneyed]

Canberra Raiders legend Jarrod Croker announces retirement



Canberra Raiders legend Jarrod Croker walked into a team meeting on Thursday last week to quietly announce his retirement from the NRL at the end of the year. No media, no fanfare. So typical of the most humble man you could ever meet. Croker insisted it be kept in house in order not to distract the team.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a few weeks,” Croker said, “and I’m relieved I’ve finally made the decision. “It’s more the body. My heart and head still love the game but the body’s had enough. The kids I play against these days are so fit, fast and strong. It’s certainly not getting any easier at my age.”

Read more: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport ... c3d019f0a5

‘The body’s had enough’: Raiders legend Croker calls time on illustrious NRL career: https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... 73b5b792a1

Canberra Raiders great Jarrod Croker announces retirement

Canberra Raiders co-captain Jarrod Croker will retire at the end of the season. With 305 NRL games under his belt, the Green Machine great felt the time was right to end his glittering career.

Read more: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... /?cs=14329

[deanoman]

What a legend

[cat]

Disappointing the telegraph didnt have the respect for Jarrod to let him and the club announce it before it was reported in the news.

[-PJ-]

Thanks Jarrod and good luck to you and the family.

Never forgotten and your scoring records never surpassed.

[greeneyed]

I’ve shed some tears, I’ll admit. One of my favourite Raiders players of all time.

[NoMan]

Congratulations for a great career to a great clubman.

[Botman]

Wonderful player and fantastic clubmen. True Raiders legend.
He's given this fan base a lot of good memories and moments.

[bonehead]

get him up here, love him.

What a player, what a highlight reel, what a career.

To watch him from 14yo right through has been a privilege

Sent from my SM-S911B using Tapatalk

[Walter]

I’ve shed some tears, I’ll admit. One of my favourite Raiders players of all time.

Likewise GE


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dubby]

Thank you Jarrod.

A quality player, a true gentleman and a Raiders legend.

Watching his reaction when we beat South's to make the 19 GF sums up his love for the Raiders.

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

[afgtnk]

The day was looming and inevitable, but that doesn't take away from a great career. He gave us everything, can't ask for more than that.

It takes a certain player to reach 300 games with one club, and hold the records that he does - some of which won't be broken for a while yet. Congratulations to him and all the best in retirement.

[yurithe1]

Good bloke and holder of a number of records that unfortunately we won't see broken for many years.

[Dr Zaius]

Congratulations on a great career.
An absolutely fantastic representative of the club.

[PerthRaider86]

Well done on your career captain.... Enjoy your retirement with the Mrs and the two boys

You deserve it

[Lucky]

Shame how things ended for him.... he deserved better. He will be in top5 pointscorers for a long time to come.
Thanks for the memories crokes.

[Wiki Special]

A true team man until the end. A great Raider with temendous character who I hope stays involved with the Club for as long as he wants in some capacity.

[greeneyed]

I’ve shed some tears, I’ll admit. One of my favourite Raiders players of all time.

Likewise GE

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Crying all over again now...

[Westsydneyraider]

True club legend and his club records won’t be beaten in my lifetime that’s for sure.
As humble as they come and a absolute champion, I hope he stays on in some capacity even as kicking coach

[denissnowy]

Knew this day was coming, but still sad to hear that he will be calling it a day.

One of the greatest milko's, enjoy retirement JC.

[-GD-]

One of my absolute favourites since his debut, this is a sad day for the club.

[GreenMachine]

Club legend.
Wish we could have capped his career with a 2019 GF victory.

[Seiffert82]

Sad end to a very good career.

All the best Toots.

Sent from my CPH2021 using Tapatalk

[Green_Hammock]

We all love you Crokes. Well done on an amazing career.

Sent from my SM-A736B using Tapatalk

[Neeeegz]

Great and likeable bloke, will hold records at the club forever.
His heart and will to win were always there.
We were lucky to have him as goal kicker because he won us games with his boot throughout his career
All the best in retirement Toots jnr
Raiders legend

[Boomercm]

A legend in my eyes.

[gerg]

Great man, and a great club man. Not sure his club point scoring record will ever be broken.

[raiderskater]

Today sucks.

He's been my favourite Raider for all those long years. There are teens who don't remember a club without him.

I hope the club are planning a big farewell for him. He deserves it.

Now I'm off to cry in a corner for a while.

[nachopants]

With all the **** that goes on in this game ... Toots ... despite the defensive struggles here and there ... above all else represents our culture and unwaveringly let me keep my head up at the pub and say I'm proud to #bleedgreen

He represents our brand. He represents our everything. In a generation of SBWs, Luais and Lodges and whatever else.

I'd rather be competitive with a gentleman like Toots than a 'winner' at all costs, fuelled by pretty ordinary human beings.

Kudos to Brit for standing by his side through all those hours, years, travel and injuries as well.

Our little lime green touch of royalty.

[RedRaider]

I wish JC well in his retirement. A record breaking point scoring center who has come to the correct decision. In his own words:

“I’ve been thinking about it for a few weeks,” Croker said, “and I’m relieved I’ve finally made the decision. “It’s more the body. My heart and head still love the game but the body’s had enough. The kids I play against these days are so fit, fast and strong. It’s certainly not getting any easier at my age.”

[Northern Raider]

Congratulations on a great career both on and off the field. Raiders leading points scorer in a record that is unlikely to be broken any time soon. Feel he made the right decision to pull stumps now. His head and heart have been writing cheques hi body can no longer cash.

[FuiFui BradBrad]

A great career, and the first Raider I followed their career from debut to retirement.

Wasn’t there a rumour at one point he posted on here? I feel like I remember speculating on it. It was probably NEEDMEMBERSCODE.

[Finchy]

A great career, and the first Raider I followed their career from debut to retirement.

You only been following a Raiders for a couple of years Fui? Surely you've been a supporter long enough to see many a Raider debut and retire.

[The Nickman]

A great career, and the first Raider I followed their career from debut to retirement.

Wasn’t there a rumour at one point he posted on here? I feel like I remember speculating on it. It was probably NEEDMEMBERSCODE.

Pretty sure it was Billy Walker.

[Finchy]

A great career, and the first Raider I followed their career from debut to retirement.

Wasn’t there a rumour at one point he posted on here? I feel like I remember speculating on it. It was probably NEEDMEMBERSCODE.

Pretty sure it was Billy Walker.

Well now I'm conflicted in my love for Croker and disdain for Billy!

[greeneyed]

Jarrod Croker to retire at end of 2023



Canberra Raiders Captain Jarrod Croker has announced he will retire from the NRL at the end of the 2023 season after 15 seasons and over 300 matches for the club.

He informed his teammates of his decision late last week.

Croker made his debut for the Raiders in 2009 against the Roosters at Canberra Stadium and has achieved several significant club and NRL milestones in a wonderful career.

He holds the records for the Raiders in points scored (2358) and tries scored (135) while also sitting third on the list of all-time NRL point scorers behind Cameron Smith and Hazem El Masri.

Over the course of his career, he has won the clubs player of the year award (Meninga Medal), the Dally M Captain of the year award and the Provan-Summons medal and was Captain alongside Josh Hodgson in the Raiders Grand Final appearance in 2019.

Croker said the decision to retire from the game was something that had been on his mind in recent times and he’s decided that the end of the current season is the right timing for him to finish his career.

“I’ve been weighing the decision up over the past couple of weeks and although my heart and mind wants to keep playing for the club I love, the reality is that my body knows it’s time for me to retire,” Croker said. “I’m comfortable with the decision I’ve made and I now get to spend the remainder of the year working alongside my teammates as we look to push towards the finals.”

Croker said he would reflect more on the decision at the end of the season and wanted the focus to remain on the team as they look to finish the season strongly.

“I’ve got lots of people to thank including my wife Brittney, my sons Rory and Tate, my mum and dad and all my family and friends, but I’ll have an opportunity to do that at the end of the season,” he said. “Right now, my focus remains on the team and us looking to win a premiership.”

Raiders Coach Ricky Stuart said the Raiders would always be home for Jarrod Croker and he would finish his career as one of the best to ever represent the club.

“Jarrod Croker will go down as one of the legends of this club. His achievements and his selflessness for the jersey are everything you want in a player and he will retire from the game alongside some of the greats to wear the green jersey,” Stuart said. “Jarrod is a local boy from Goulburn who played his entire career from junior representatives right through to 300 games in the NRL and he is the perfect example of what it is to be a Raider.”

“Jarrod Croker is and will always be a Canberra Raider.”

Canberra Raiders media