We love the mighty Canberra Raiders
Until the 2022 season, Jarrod Croker had never played reserve grade for the Raiders.
He went straight from the under-20s in 2008 to first grade, playing 21 NRL games in his first year.
But 2022 was a humbling experience as he returned to playing in the NSW Cup after stem-cell surgery on his knee the previous year.
Canberra Raiders five-eighth Jack Wighton is coming off a mixed pre-season, however the 30-year-old has another big moment coming his way - a contract call.
Over the last six months, Wighton has won a World Cup final and an Indigenous All Stars bout, both at centre, but on the flip side, the five-eighth also spent a night locked up alongside rep team-mate Latrell Mitchell.
The duo were reportedly wrestling early last month in the streets of Canberra following Wighton's 30th birthday celebrations, ending the night in handcuffs after police intervened.
Albert Hopoate grins when he mentions watching his dad's highlight reels.
"He was more of a dirty player than a footy player," the Canberra Raiders winger said.
But you don't tell him that, do you?