The "Toughest" Decision Jarrod Croker Has Ever Had To Make

"She’s probably filthy at me still"


Article heading image for The "Toughest" Decision Jarrod Croker Has Ever Had To Make

Getty

The year was 2008 and a fresh-faced Jarrod Croker had just led the Canberra Raiders U-20s to Premiership triumph in the inaugural National Youth Competition. 

Fast forward a few months into 2009 Croker, shockingly, was called up to make his First Grade debut in a pre-season trial. 

Elation turned quickly to 'anguish' with his debut coinciding with his sisters wedding. 

"After that 2008 Under 20s win, they put a few of the boys up to train with first grade and I wasn’t even one of them," Croker told the Locker Room podcast. 

"I think Josh Dugan was obviously one of them. Mick Picker, Joel Thompson, guys like that, were training with first grade. I trained with the under 20s through to Christmas.

"I think one of the boys, Duges or something, got injured before a trial game and I just happened and I just happened to get the call-up to a trial game in Brisbane.

"It was on my sister’s wedding, so she was stoked.

"I brushed her wedding to go up and play a trial game, as a kid.

"It was a tough decision and I’m sure she’s probably filthy at me still.

"But I think she knows that if I didn’t take that choice, it could have gone the other way for me."

Croker would go on to make his NRL debut that same year, making 21 appearances and scoring a club-high 12 tries in his rookie season. 

Safe to say, it was the right decision to make. 

10 January 2018




Listen Live!
Up Next