BY DAN

Gather round as we strike another off the Jarrod Croker All Stars.

For those who don’t know, the Jarrod Croker All Stars is a celebration of what might have been. Every Raiders we’ve loved that in another life, with different luck, or a different opportunity, may have got a chance to play at the highest level. It’s designed to honour the great man; one of the most astounding and underappreciated Canberra players of his time. A man that was always in the conversation but never in the announcement. Jarrod Croker deserved better, and so do the rest of this team. And with him retiring last year, never having played an international, the unfairness of it all just feels so present.

In the last few years our focus has been on obviously talent players performing well and just missing out. First it was Matt Timoko. He got overlooked for all-and-sundry, including his team-mate Seb Kris. When he finally got a shot last year he was excellent, playing a big role in New Zealand’s absolute domination of Australia. He even displayed a creative passing game he rarely gets a chance to show in NRL footy.

Recently the fire of our ire had shifted like the eye of Sauron to Hudson Young’s continued absence. After he was selected on the bench for Friday night’s game we have just about out of things to complain about. Maybe we’ll just get in early on Xavier Savage and Ethan Strange. I mean when you think about it, this is really just an excuse to talk about players we love. And I do love them. Yes? Yes.

Let’s do this. Your third annual Jarrod Croker All Stars.

Fullback: Clinton Schifcoske

The Raiders list of international fullbacks is longer than my face after a heartbreaking loss and two (2) tumblers of sadness whisky. Belcher (insert lovey eyes emoji), Mullins (insert fire emoji), Charnze (insert happy cry emoji) but also Dugan (drinks emoji), and even technically Jordan Rapana and Seb Kris if you want to people who have played both internationals and fullback, though not at the same time. Shit it’s only a matter of time (he said, way too certainly) that Chevy Stewart is part of that discussion.

One person we’re certain will never play an international is Clinton Schifcoske. That’s unfair man. That wasn’t important to rep teams at the time (Darren Lockyer (pre-move) and Anthony Minichello were the first choice Aussie fullbacks over his career, no shame) doesn’t do justice to how important he was to the Raiders.

Wingers: Xavier Savage and Matthew Wood

Our first new inclusion. How exciting. X showed this year that representative football is very much in his future. He’s already making whatever the PMsXIII is (I don’t classify it as an international. But it’s not not an international. Right?). We’re all really excited about the improvement made by Savage this year, and if we just extrapolate that at the same level over the future he should be the greatest footballer in human history in just a few years. Surely that includes an international or two.

Matthew Wood was never even close to representative footy. But he was an inspiration to all of us shorter than our friends. He was never short of courage, or pace, finishing those attacking movements. I’ve said this before, but one day I’m going to corner him at a pub and ask him how he kept his head straight walking amongst legends. The backline he played in was stars and club heroes at every position. And then there was Canberra’s Matty Woods, finishing off the most inventive and brilliant rugby league the world had seen to that point. A man could get lost in amongst the stars. He never did.

Centre: Jarrod Croker and Adam Mogg

This hurts so much more now that Jarrod is retired. His prospects for an international career were controversially corralled by Cameron ‘cruel’ Smith (you can substitute a different C word if you’d prefer), who’s ‘bump’ to Croker’s knee in the 2016 preliminary final not only limited the Canberran in that game, but also meant he was left out of the Four Nations tour that followed because of injury (according to Mal Meninga). It wasn’t the only time he was talked about for higher honours – he was kinda a talking heads favourite ‘dark horse’ for years (and Uncle Wayne pitched him for origin in 2016) – but it was the most real chance he had. Sigh.

Adam Mogg got his dream in those two origin games he played, scoring three tries, being a hero, and being part of the start of a dynasty. If he never played internationals as part of some Faustian bargain then I think he’s probably sweet with that.

Five-Eighth: Chris O’Sullivan

We, as a fan base, need to talk about how important Chris O’Sullivan more often. Because Laurie Daley exists people who weren’t there forget how critical he was to the golden generation. He was a two time premiership winner. He was a two time Mal Meninga medalist (noting it wasn’t called that then). When he retired it was as the most capped Raider on 202 games, owner of the most important field goal in Canberra Raiders history, as well as the most important bomb. He scored the Milk’s only try in the ’87 decider. He’s should be a hero to us all.

Halfback: Aidan Sezer

What’s better, four years of Aidan Sezer as the Raiders second or third option, or the three, injury interrupted years of Jamal Fogarty? I lean Aidan, but would support you if you wanted to make the pitch for Jamal. The Fog has been supremely important to Canberra’s success, moreso than Aidan when the Raiders were in their pomp.

But man, don’t sleep on Aidan. Remember the three field goal day? Remember the try with a broken fucking face? Remember him bringing back legitimacy to a club that every free agent had turned their back on? I will love Aidan forever.

Lock: Alan Tongue

Canberra have had a few players at this position who have been club legends and never made a scratch in international football. You could put Shaun Fensom or Dean Lance here and I wouldn’t bat an eyelid. They’re all made of concrete. They all eat dry weetbix for breakfast and drink black coffee. They all walk around in Spring without a stick or cable ties in their helmets. Hard as nails.

Alan was a king though. He did whatever was needed, whenever it was needed. It became so obvious that he would have played a million origin games for QLD if he’d been from there that it became a cliche. He was never shiny enough to make an Australian team. It was the nation’s loss, not Alan’s.

Second row: Joel Thompson and Huddo/Dean Lance

I swear when he was playing Holden Cup (the 20s comp) before first grade that Joel Thompson seemed 8 feet tall, in possession of the greatest offload in human history, and basically a shoe-in to be one of the greatest backrowers in rugby league history. Turns out he was just a really good footy player. Probably a lesson there somewhere….anyway, have I told you how Stewart, Sanders and Strange are going to be the greatest spine in histo…..oh….

Pitch: TV show where Dean Lance goes around in his headgear solving problems like some sort of mix of Dirty Harry and the 1989 grand final.

Props: Corey Horsburgh and Todd Payten

The Red Horse has had an up-and-down couple of years. 2023 was arguably a breakout. He played huge minutes, had huge production and even played Origin. 2024 came, and with it suspension, injury, flirtation with leaving the Milk. And then he returned at the end of the season to be part of three victories, making it clear just how important he is for this side. If he can find his best form over the next few years he might disappear from this list.

Todd Payten could still play prop. Look at him. that bald head is a giveaway. Get him on the field.

Hooker: Simon Woolford

Let’s be real. This list could have been named after Germ too. 230 odd games for the Milk. Captain for years. A solitary rep game for Country. It’s unfair.

Bench: Troy Thompson, Josh Miller, Shaun Fensom, Ethan Strange

Troy Thompson gets in because he was great for the Raiders for many years and for all reports was a fun hang. And he won the Meninga medal in 2005

Josh Miller loved running into things.

Shaun Fensom loved things running into him.

Ethan Strange better not be on this list for long.

Coach: David Furner

It was him or Neil Henry. And you know, the older I get the more I think about that right foot step. Just get him showing the boys how to do that.

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