BY DAN

It’s often said that character is revealed by adversity. Over Jarrod Croker’s journey to 300 games he’s faced his share of bad days. Missed moments, the burdens of expectation and leadership, and injury have tried to drag him down. His response has been to walk tall and lead the Raiders, and the Canberra community, with a grace that inspires and gratifies.

There are many reasons to love Jarrod. His goal-kicking. His frosted tips. The style of footy he has played. High voltage and exciting in the early years, aggressive defence mixed with a quick step and a slick pair of hands that formed a crucial part of many a exhilarating Raiders side. As he’s aged it’s become more crafty, finding a way to constantly cover for the fact he doesn’t have the speed or strength he once had. That little flick pass he does when he has no time or space, so magic you half expect him to be holding up a card as the winger scores.

But for me what will always inspire is the dignity with which he has faced the challenges of existence both as a footballer and as a human. There’s been a few, but each of them has been eyed off with curiosity and equanimity. An acceptance of Sissyphean nature of life and his career, combined with a pure grit that comes with the willingness to keep rolling that goddamn boulder up the hill. The heart of a warrior beats with grace and perseverance.

We’ve known him so long. From the get go he almost immediately felt a part of the furniture. He was part of that 2008 Toyota Cup team that offered all the hope the preceding 14 years of top level football had stripped away. He, with the rest of that team offered the hope of salvation; a return to what was once normal but not seemed impossible. In the end he was the one from that team then went as close to delivering as anyone could.

He has been burdened with expectations at every stage of his career. From this desperate legacy to the demands of the present. When he missed that penalty goal against the Tigers in 2010 he was already nearing 50 games for the club, and a good chunk of the post-game concern was how he would handle the disappointment that shouldn’t have been his. When he was given the captaincy in 2014, at just 24, at the nadir of Canberra’s recent history he was asked to lead when there were no leaders. It could have burned him out. When injury robbed him of his health, and almost his sanity, he just simply persisted. All the time we watched with a heart that hoped he could keep on keeping on and a head that hurt at the thought of what was likely. We needn’t have worried.

Instead he has faced those moments with the same quiet determination that has characterised his career. A slightly furrowed brow, a wry smile to a reporter before giving an unusually honest answer. He’s never hid how and when he’s struggled. He’s never shied from the battle. Just got on with work, proud to be part of a club that he made great again. Happy to pitch-in in whatever way he could. Not controlled by pride or ego. Just a desire to play footy at the highest level, make his team successful and contribute to his community.

He has reminded us that leadership doesn’t mean yelling. Once upon a time he was often criticised for not dragging players into huddles to give them a serve. For not arguing with referees like it’s ever made a difference. Jarrod was secure enough to know what his leadership style was almost immediately, and that people and players would follow him if he was himself. We did, and they have. If you need any evidence of how effective that was just ask the players that begged Coach Stuart to bring him back to first grade this year, or the players that told the world they felt more calm when Jarrod was around.

This maturity and understanding has been a critical part of him as a footballer, and permeated who he is as a person. He has never been a perfect player, and while the rugby league community has constantly debated his worthiness, he’s always forgiven the opinions of the world. Even when he’s missed out on opportunities that may have been offered had he been at a bigger club he’s just focused on his task, and what he could contribute and achieve at his chosen home. Along the way he proved not only could he lead Canberra out of the mud, but that it could be done with a humility and persistence. That we could scrape and tear and claw our way from being a national joke to recognised and even important. A boy from Goulburn there on the biggest day for the whole nation to see. He earned it, and deserved more.

On Friday I will be in Canberra to see the first game I’ve attended there since the 2019 preliminary final. On that night we got to see what was a culmination of Croker’s grace and dignity – being a critical part of a team that finally dragged us back to relevance, to a world in which we could consider that nice guys can succeed. I’ll be there to thank him, along with 25,000 of my closest friends, for proving that is true. That he made this trip and his contribution with such grace will never be forgotten. That we will get to celebrate him this Friday is a gift.

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