BY DAN

In announcing Jarrod Croker’s 300th game two weeks ahead of time the Raiders have done everyone a favour. Travel decisions can be made, time taken off from work to be ready for a 6pm start. Jarrod doesn’t have to celebrate a life-affirming milestone away from home. But it comes with a price.

After a game in which we had re-affirmed for us that football is about way more than wins and losses it’s pleasing to see the club hold that message tight. For once a footy player gets something approaching a fairy-tale moment (hopefully not ending). This is a good thing. Jarrod Croker has given his body and soul for our entertainment, the least we can do is thank him properly. I will be there (though it’s worth noting the people who had already organised to be at Campbelltown for the same reasons).

Having said it is also a plainly insane decision that only the Canberra Raiders would make. Risking competition points by potentially naming a substandard side because a milestone celebration wouldn’t be as sweet at the wrong ground? Letting sentiment get in the way of the cold, hard chase for competition points? In a league as tight as close as every Raiders victory this year it’s the kind of dewy-eyed thinking that can lead a good side to being an also ran.

It comes with an obvious price. The Raiders, at the best of times, have a tendency to take weeks off (see Sea Eagles, Manly). Putting the ‘big game’ on the horizon has given a club that needs no excuse a rolled gold reason to look over the shoulder of next Friday to the prettier friend. One week after uniting like old friends pulling one last heist they are dispirit again, one player being put to the side for the sake of the vibes.

It’s even more problematic given the injuries suffered by the Milk on the weekend. With Corey Harawira-Naera out Canberra will already be struggling to fill their edge defence. The cohesion, or lack thereof has been routinely exploited in recent weeks, to the extent that what was once a functional defence now feels about as robust as my flimsy excuse when Mum caught a 15 year-old me with a bottle of vodka and a dream. Now they’re removing yet another part of this to rebuild on the fly again. They better hope Hudson Young can back up two days after origin because otherwise they’ll be likely matching debutant Clay Webb with a big fat who knows at left centre. Jack Wighton is going to have to cover a lot of ground.

There’s no certain replacement. Most would assume Seb Kris could move forward into his ‘natural’ position at left centre, allowing Xavier Savage to come into the back. The seems like the most stabilising approach, adding some experience around what could potentially be a young backrower. But given Kris’ health is not clear after leaving Saturday’s game with an injury this then becomes a pathway that may not be an option. That leaves bringing Harley Smith-Shields, or perhaps Brad Morkos, up from Cup footy to cover for Croker.

One can’t help that such a decision wouldn’t have been made if Canberra had lost last night, or if they weren’t playing the lowly-ranked Tigers next week. This aspect has a tinge of arrogance. The Raiders victory last night was thorough but hardly conclusive. They’re yet to prove themselves worthy of taking any team in rugby league for granted. Moreso the Tigers are much better than their record, unlike the Raiders have beaten the Panthers this decade, and won’t let the Milk get away with half-assing their way to victory. If they lose against the Tigers, and against the Warriors they will have destabilised all they have stabilised over the last six weeks, all for a better party venue.

It’s also worth wondering if this is a Stuart decision or a player-led revolution. I actually hope it’s the latter. I’d hate for people like Tapine, Papalii, and Horsburgh, all playing massive minutes to keep the ship afloat to feel like one player is getting a week off for no reason when they desperately need all hands on deck. That could foster inter-club awkwardness that is not needed right now.

It will feel better on the night but right now this feels tinged. While Croker’s 300 would have felt somewhat imperfect in Sydney, there would be plenty of Raiders fans there to make it worthwhile. 301 at Canberra would be a lot of fun too. Now instead of being excited for him to make a milestone he very much deserves we have to hear noise about the right and wrongs of a decision that should have been straightforward. To say I’m conflicted is obvious. I’m sure plenty of you are too.

If there’s one thing it does it make a bit more sense it’s the idea this is Jarrod’s last run-around. Not only will the 300 game be a celebration of getting there, but it could be one of the last game he plays. Coach Stuart is no stranger to not being given a chance to say goodbye properly. Perhaps this is his way of allowing Jarrod that moment, and allowing himself the space to drop him later in the season when young players like Xavier Savage prove themselves ready for the prime time again. If that’s the case then I’m not a massive fan but I also get it.

I’ll be there celebrating Friday week. I’ll also be watching against the Tigers next weekend. I hope the Raiders win both of them. For Jarrod’s sake.

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