As Croker considers Canberra connection, Titans try to tempt Smith away
Chris Wilson
Wednesday, 26 July 2006
The Raiders' longest serving player Jason Croker will tell the club by the end of this week whether he intends to remain in Canberra next year. The Raiders will meet with Croker tomorrow to outline plans for job training and helping find him work after his football career is over.
It is the same offer the Raiders made to captain Clinton Schifcofske. He turned it down in favour of joining the Queensland Reds in 2007.
Croker, 33, has an option in his contract to play another season with the Raiders but he has been exploring opportunities in the British Super League.
Croker has played 312 first grade games and is the seventh most capped player in Australian rugby league premiership history. Only one player has played more games for one club, Cronulla's Andrew Ettinghausen with 328 matches.
"At the end of the day he doesn't have to give us an answer yet but I think he wants to clear it up," Raiders general manager Don Furner said.
"He's the one who said he'd give us an answer, we haven't put pressure on him to do that."
The Raiders have re-signed lower grade players Bronx Goodwin (two years), Jack Pearson (two years) and Steve McLean (one year).
But they are yet to attract any major recruits to the club for next season.
St George Illawarra Dragons winger Colin Best is the only player with NRL experience who has been added to the 2007 Raiders squad.
Furner said the club would not be pressured into signing players. He said the club was comfortable waiting until the NRL salary cap audit in October, when other clubs may be forced to offload players before the 2007 season.
Meanwhile, the Gold Coast Titans will try to lure Raiders veteran Jason Smith to the club by emphasising location and corporate opportunities after football.
Smith's manager Sam Ayoub will meet with Titans management in Sydney today. Smith may also be at the meeting, with the Raiders given a day off from training.
The Titans and North Queensland Cowboys have made offers to Smith, while the Sydney Roosters have been linked with the play-maker.
Ayoub said the initial offer from the Titans had fallen short of expectations.
The Titans only have two spots left on their roster and managing director Michael Searle said the club was keen to attract Smith for the foundation season.
Smith, 34, plans to retire from football on land at Billinudgel, 40 minutes south of the Gold Coast.
"The head coach [John Cartwright] and I both agree that Jason is potentially one of the last great ball players, he's got incredible ball skills," Searle said. "We look to play him in the backrow, possibly at lock, and as a back-up to our halves.
"His age is irrelevant because we're looking at him for his skills. He's like a Wally Lewis in that sense, his mind is sharp and his fitness levels are still exceptional."
Ayoub said Smith deserved to be rewarded as a leading player, but he said the Gold Coast location could be an incentive for Smith.
"If he's going to go around again he wants to be rewarded for his efforts and influence," Ayoub said.
"At the moment his influence on games is as good if not superior to most players in the game. You only have to see the results in Canberra and his influence on the team.
"There is no doubt in my mind that he will play next year."
http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/de...ry_id=497221&category=rugby league&m=7&y=2006
Chris Wilson
Wednesday, 26 July 2006
The Raiders' longest serving player Jason Croker will tell the club by the end of this week whether he intends to remain in Canberra next year. The Raiders will meet with Croker tomorrow to outline plans for job training and helping find him work after his football career is over.
It is the same offer the Raiders made to captain Clinton Schifcofske. He turned it down in favour of joining the Queensland Reds in 2007.
Croker, 33, has an option in his contract to play another season with the Raiders but he has been exploring opportunities in the British Super League.
Croker has played 312 first grade games and is the seventh most capped player in Australian rugby league premiership history. Only one player has played more games for one club, Cronulla's Andrew Ettinghausen with 328 matches.
"At the end of the day he doesn't have to give us an answer yet but I think he wants to clear it up," Raiders general manager Don Furner said.
"He's the one who said he'd give us an answer, we haven't put pressure on him to do that."
The Raiders have re-signed lower grade players Bronx Goodwin (two years), Jack Pearson (two years) and Steve McLean (one year).
But they are yet to attract any major recruits to the club for next season.
St George Illawarra Dragons winger Colin Best is the only player with NRL experience who has been added to the 2007 Raiders squad.
Furner said the club would not be pressured into signing players. He said the club was comfortable waiting until the NRL salary cap audit in October, when other clubs may be forced to offload players before the 2007 season.
Meanwhile, the Gold Coast Titans will try to lure Raiders veteran Jason Smith to the club by emphasising location and corporate opportunities after football.
Smith's manager Sam Ayoub will meet with Titans management in Sydney today. Smith may also be at the meeting, with the Raiders given a day off from training.
The Titans and North Queensland Cowboys have made offers to Smith, while the Sydney Roosters have been linked with the play-maker.
Ayoub said the initial offer from the Titans had fallen short of expectations.
The Titans only have two spots left on their roster and managing director Michael Searle said the club was keen to attract Smith for the foundation season.
Smith, 34, plans to retire from football on land at Billinudgel, 40 minutes south of the Gold Coast.
"The head coach [John Cartwright] and I both agree that Jason is potentially one of the last great ball players, he's got incredible ball skills," Searle said. "We look to play him in the backrow, possibly at lock, and as a back-up to our halves.
"His age is irrelevant because we're looking at him for his skills. He's like a Wally Lewis in that sense, his mind is sharp and his fitness levels are still exceptional."
Ayoub said Smith deserved to be rewarded as a leading player, but he said the Gold Coast location could be an incentive for Smith.
"If he's going to go around again he wants to be rewarded for his efforts and influence," Ayoub said.
"At the moment his influence on games is as good if not superior to most players in the game. You only have to see the results in Canberra and his influence on the team.
"There is no doubt in my mind that he will play next year."
http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/de...ry_id=497221&category=rugby league&m=7&y=2006
