Jason Croker

Talented utility player from Crookwell, a five-eighth, centre or lock, was a reserve for NSW's State of Origin side in 1993. Croker, who scored four tries in a club match against Cronulla that year, continued his great work the following season after being selected for Country Origin. A fine positional player, his try in the 1994 grand final brought his season's total to a club record-equaling 22 tries for the year. Croker would not have been out of place with his seven club-mates on the Kangaroo Tour but despite playing for NSW in 1996, he continually missed out on higher rep honours including Super League representation in 1997. Croker’s selection in Australia’s World Cup squad in 2000, on the back of one of his most consistent seasons in his decade with the Raiders, was a just reward for the hard-working clubman. Croker played in four matches leading up to Australia’s win against NZ in the final, including three from the interchange bench, but his 2001 season was marred by a serious head injury after he was bashed in a Canberra nightclub, and a cruciate ligament injury in June. Although the Raiders returned to the semi-finals in consecutive seasons in 2002-04, injuries continued to hamper Croker’s latter career – and the fortunes of his club. He left the Raiders at the end of the 2006 season, after setting club records for most matches and career tries, for French club Les Catalans in the English Super League.