We love the mighty Canberra Raiders
Rugby League fans in Goulburn, Australia are in for a treat this Friday as they celebrate Jarrod Croker's 300th NRL game.
Croker, who started his rugby league career as a Goulburn Stockman, has become the town's favourite son and the Raiders have given 400 tickets to the junior Stockmen and senior side, the Bulldogs, to celebrate his milestone.
Fans are planning to wear their junior Stockmen gear to stand out on TV and show their support for Croker.
If you ever wanted to rob a bank in Goulburn, or take a stab at boosting the Big Merino, Friday afternoon would be the time.
There won't be a soul around in the nation's first inland city. They'll all be up the freeway to celebrate Jarrod Croker, the town's favourite son, as he plays his 300th NRL game.
This entire week has been a celebration of Croker and his long career but that story starts back home because before the 32-year-old was anything else in rugby league, he was a Goulburn Stockman.
"The Raiders have been really good, they've given us 400 tickets for the junior Stockmen and the senior side, the Bulldogs," said Goulburn local Jeremy Ryan.
Canberra's injured players have returned ahead of schedule to be a part of the Raiders' biggest regular-season home game in more than a decade with skipper Jarrod Croker playing his 300th NRL match.
Second-rower Elliott Whitehead and fullback Sebastian Kris were named to return from injuries earlier than expected for Friday's clash against the NZ Warriors.
It's going to be a bumper night at GIO Stadium with more than 20,000 tickets already sold and a chance to pack in more than 21,000 fans for the biggest regular-season game since 2006.
Coach Ricky Stuart admitted the lure of playing in Croker's milestone had inspired the...