We love the mighty Canberra Raiders
A $3000 hit to the back pocket or two weeks on the sidelines is the choice facing Jordan Rapana as the Canberra Raiders scramble to turn their season around.
Rapana will cop a $3000 fine with an early plea for dangerous contact charge after tripping Reimis Smith during an "embarrassing" 48-2 loss to the Melbourne Storm.
The Raiders flyer would be banned for two games if he fights the charge and loses.
Jarrod Croker will retire as a Raiders legend.
But if he had his way, he would be leaving the game in the same fashion as he entered first grade in 2009.
Croker's first grade debut had little fanfare and that's how he wanted it. His approach to any form of fanfare would be considered by most to be low-key. His approach is based on a 'team first' philosophy.
Despite his desire to keep it moderate, there will be plenty of fanfare around his imminent retirement at the end of this season. That is guaranteed. The celebration witnessed when he ran out for his 300th in June is a testament to this happening.
With a top four spot on the line and finals in the near distance, Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy and his players agreed that standards had to lift across the board in order to bridge the gap on the competition pacesetters.
The Storm played the way they trained in a professional manner as they mauled Canberra Raiders 48-2 at AAMI Park on Sunday.
Such is the up and down form of the Storm, Bellamy is not convinced his side has totally turned the corner for the run into the finals, but there were some promising signs to come out of the team's preparation and game day.