With a revamped knee and plenty of competition, a rejuvenated Jarrod Croker is ready to prove the doubters wrong and claim his place in an increasingly crowded Canberra backline.
The Raiders long-time skipper made his return for the Green Machine last week after offseason stem cell injections to his knee, a procedure aimed at saving his career.
There were promising signs for Croker in the 32-18 win over the Roosters, where he scored a try, played far more minutes than originally anticipated and even filled in at five-eighth for the first time since his junior days.
Croker will again line up for the Raiders in their final trial against Manly on Friday night and is expected to get a light hit out off the bench.
He'll do so with renewed confidence in his knee after getting through the first hit-out unscathed.
"I felt pretty good. I'm not 21 anymore, but It was a good start. I don't want to get too carried away but I was pretty happy with it," Croker said.
"There wasn't many nerves, maybe on Monday and Tuesday when I was thinking about and I thought I'd be nervous once I got closer to the game but I wasn't. Once we got away on the trip, playing cards with the boys and carrying on, I was straight back into it.
"I've done a full offseason of rehab and a month of hard training, so I've done a lot of work."
For Croker, 2021 wasn't just one of the toughest seasons of his career physically, but mentally as well.
When shoulder and knee problems limited him to just 12 games, few of which were at the high standard he'd set through his long career with the Raiders, the knives came out for Croker for the first time in his career.
Some fans and media called for Croker to medically retire, something he says he never seriously considered.
"You always read things. I learnt at the start of last year after a tough few weeks I didn't have to buy into that sort of rubbish," Croker said.
"I'd never been across it in my career, never had to worry about it until last year but at 31, I learned I didn't have to read it because I'd never had anything bad written about me.
"I had to move on from it pretty quick and come in with a fresh approach and a fresh body and away we go."
"If I'm no good I'm no good, but I've gotten better and better as it's gone on.
"There's been a few hiccups but nothing major – my back was stiff for a few weeks, but if your back is sore you're not worrying about your knee so that's a positive!"
Despite his status as a club legend, Croker won't walk into a crowded Raiders backline for the season opener against Cronulla.
Even accounting for Harley Smith-Shields' season ending knee injury and Jordan Rapana's early suspension, Canberra is blessed with plenty of backline talent and competition for spots remains fierce.
"Matt Timoko has been one standout, so is Seb Kris, those guys who have had two or three pre-seasons now, they're starting to grow and grow again and push for spots," Croker said.
"Semi Valemei is the same and we've got some serious depth with Nick Cotric coming back and Jordan Rapana sitting at home.
"I know it was only a trial game, but we've spoken a lot about pride in the jersey and regardless of where we play, who we play or what the game is, we want to have that pride in the jersey."
Plenty of Canberra's big guns will run out against the Sea Eagles with Josh Papalii, Josh Hodgson and Jack Wighton all named on Thursday.
It will be the first time Wighton plays alongside new recruit Jamal Fogarty in the halves with Cotric, who has returned from Canterbury, also named.
