In typically forthright and uncomplicated fashion, Raiders legend Jason Croker declared ‘records are made to be broken’ as he prepares to pass the baton to Josh Papalii as the Green Machine’s most capped player.
Big Papa joined Croker on 318 games when the Raiders beat the Roosters 20-18 on Sunday night and will take sole ownership this weekend, fittingly on home soil at GIO Stadium.
With the accolade set to be passed on in Round 14 when the Raiders host the Rabbitohs at GIO Stadium, the Canberra 1994 premiership-winner said while bittersweet, he’s proud to step down to one of the game’s all-time enforcers.
“I’ve known him since 2010 when he first came to the club and he still hasn’t changed one bit,” Croker told NRL.com.
“Back in 2010 I ran a labour hire company and he arrived in Canberra and asked for work when he was about 17, he didn’t end up working for us, but I just remember him being quietly spoken like he still is today.
“He’s a really good fella, he’s been playing great footy so, he really deserves this at the end of the day.”
Remembered as the ultimate utility, the Raiders Hall of Fame Inductee – also known in the rugby league world as ‘Toots’ – began his career on the wing in 1991, and 318 games later, had appeared at centre, lock, five eighth and second row.
While he never got the opportunity to play with the Test and Origin forward after retiring from the NRL in 2006, Croker said Papalii’s tenure is all the more significant given his service up front.
“Obviously I started on the wing and when I got a bit older I got a bit slower and moved towards the middle, but Josh has been in the forwards his whole career so that certainly makes it even more significant I think,” he said.
“I remember early in his career particularly, he was a bit of a bowling ball, a bit like an Alan Cann of my days.”
The former NSW Blues and Kangaroos representative said he had previously accepted his record was likely to be broken by fellow Crookwell local Jarrod Croker who also took the club’s all-time top try scorer accolade from his namesake in 2019.
Croker, who continues to run a labour hire and recruitment business in Canberra today, said he is still a regular at the Raiders home games and is enjoying the atmosphere in the Nation’s Capital on the back of the team’s recent run of form.
“Obviously Jarrod was on track to smash the record earlier in his career but had a few injuries and setbacks,” he said.
“So the record actually stood for a bit longer than I expected but I’m just as proud to see Josh get it because he’s another really proud club member.
“Records are made to be broken, and I know that I had a pretty good career and am happy with what I’ve done and grateful for my time at the club.
“And it’s very special what’s happening around the club this year and all of Canberra wants to talk about the Raiders.
“It’s great at the moment when you go to the gym and people bail you up and want to have a chat about the club and how they’re going, which makes you feel good and like you’re still a part of it.”