Raiders coach Ricky Stuart admits that when watching club favourite Jarrod Croker battle debilitating injuries for two seasons became too much, he asked the champion centre to consider retirement.
After playing 12 games in 2021, the 32-year-old managed just one NRL appearance in 2022 and looked destined to finish his career agonisingly close to the 300-game mark.
Knee and shoulder injuries had theatened to end his career on 292 games but Croker fought his way back into Stuart's line-up in Round 6 and has been a key figure in the Green Machine's four-game winning streak.
"Jarrod's...