Ricky Stuart insists he is not disrespecting the Wests Tigers by resting Jarrod Croker next week so the Canberra captain can play his 300th NRL game in front of the Raiders' home crowd.
The Raiders' 33-26 defeat of South Sydney on Saturday night marked Croker's 299th first-grade game and the veteran centre had been set to become the 48th player to reach 300 games when the Raiders meet the Tigers next Friday.
Instead, Stuart will leave Croker out of the clash at Campbelltown Stadium, and recall him the following week when the Raiders host the Warriors at GIO Stadium in Canberra.