We love the mighty Canberra Raiders
Despite the loss, Jarrod Croker will remember this week for the rest of his life.
He never anticipated how big his 300th NRL game would be and by the end the Canberra Raiders just seemed to run out of legs.
They couldn't go with a New Zealand Warriors side in the second half after the visitors were atypically resolute in the first, running away 36-14 victors at Canberra Stadium on Friday night.
Despite
going down 36-14
, Jarrod Croker declared after his 300th NRL game: I'm probably more proud now to be a Raider than I ever have been.
Meanwhile, coach Ricky Stuart has no regrets about the huge build-up to the game. In fact, he said he was happy after the game and believes the week of celebrations has shown younger players just how wonderful the Raiders' culture is.
What this club is about is blokes like Jarrod, that's why we're so proud of him, Stuart said in his post-game press conference.
I'd rather have this week and lose the two points than have a sh***y week for Jarrod promoting his...
Reaching 300 NRL first grade games is a remarkable achievement and it is a testament to Jarrod Croker's hard work, determination, and resilience. He has proven himself to be one of the best players in the NRL and is a deserving member of the 300-game club.
Despite the loss to the New Zealand Warriors, the night was still a celebration of Croker's impressive achievement. He is only the second player in the history of the Canberra Raiders to reach 300 games, with the first being his namesake Jason Croker who played 318 games for the team.
Jarrod has been a dedicated player for the Raiders since making his NRL debut in 2009 and has been a consistent performer throughout his career. He has also served as the team's captain since 2015 and was instrumental in leading the team to their first Grand Final appearance in over 25 years in 2019.
Ricky Stuart was right to treat Jarrod's 300th with the respect it deserved. The huge crowd of over 20,000 packed into Bruce "GIO" Stadium vindicated the decision to have him play the match in Canberra.
While the milestone game may not have gone as planned, Croker's overall contribution to the team can never be overlooked. He has been and continues to be a champion player and a positive influence both on and off the field.