Jason Croker
Encyclopedia
Jason Croker is a former Australian professional rugby league
footballer. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin
representative utility player, he previously played club football in the NRL for the Canberra Raiders
, with whom he won the 1994 Winfield Cup and set club records for both highest total games and tries. Croker saw out his career with French Super League
club Catalans Dragons
.
for Canberra is a club record and in 2000 he was named the Raiders' player of the year. He also gained selection in Australia's 2000 World Cup
winning squad.
In 2006 Croker played his 300th game for the Raiders, becoming the first to achieve this honour for the Raiders.
In Jason Croker's last game in Canberra he was given the keys to the city by Chief Minister
Jon Stanhope
in front of over 21,000 fans.
from 2007, which, after two successful campaigns, was extended by a further year in 2008. Croker's experience was of increasing value to the fledgling French side, and his physical fitness and hunger for the game are admired by many. He is regarded fondly by many Dragons fans for an audacious drop-goal scored in a 29–22 win over Bradford at Odsal in March 2007.
Croker was the oldest player in Super League
until retiring at the end of the 2009 season at age 36.
in the Canberra Raiders Cup.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin
New South Wales rugby league team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
representative utility player, he previously played club football in the NRL for the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
, with whom he won the 1994 Winfield Cup and set club records for both highest total games and tries. Croker saw out his career with French Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
club Catalans Dragons
Catalans Dragons
The Catalans Dragons are a French professional rugby league club based in Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales. They currently play in the Super League, and are the only team in the competition from outside of the United Kingdom...
.
Canberra
Croker was named the Canberra Raiders' rookie of the year in 1991 and he went on to play somewhat of a utility position over his long career, filling into many spots throughout his team. His 120 triesTry
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
for Canberra is a club record and in 2000 he was named the Raiders' player of the year. He also gained selection in Australia's 2000 World Cup
2000 Rugby League World Cup
The 2000 Rugby League World Cup was the twelfth staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was held during October and November of that year in Great Britain, Ireland and France...
winning squad.
In 2006 Croker played his 300th game for the Raiders, becoming the first to achieve this honour for the Raiders.
In Jason Croker's last game in Canberra he was given the keys to the city by Chief Minister
Chief Minister
A Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...
Jon Stanhope
Jon Stanhope
Jonathan Ronald Stanhope is a former Australian politician who was Labor Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory from 2001 to 2011. Stanhope represented the Ginninderra electorate in the ACT Legislative Assembly from 1998 until 2011. He resigned as Chief Minister on 12 May 2011 and as...
in front of over 21,000 fans.
Catalans
Croker signed a two year deal to play for French team Catalans DragonsCatalans Dragons
The Catalans Dragons are a French professional rugby league club based in Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales. They currently play in the Super League, and are the only team in the competition from outside of the United Kingdom...
from 2007, which, after two successful campaigns, was extended by a further year in 2008. Croker's experience was of increasing value to the fledgling French side, and his physical fitness and hunger for the game are admired by many. He is regarded fondly by many Dragons fans for an audacious drop-goal scored in a 29–22 win over Bradford at Odsal in March 2007.
Croker was the oldest player in Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
until retiring at the end of the 2009 season at age 36.
Return to Australia
He currently acts as a player-coach for the Gungahlin BullsGungahlin, Australian Capital Territory
Gungahlin is a suburb in the Canberra, Australia district with the same name; Gungahlin. The postcode is 2912. Gungahlin is the name for the entire district, and also the town centre, but it is also the name of the suburb which Gungahlin Town Centre is in....
in the Canberra Raiders Cup.
Representative
- Country: Played two games for Country
- State Of OriginRugby League State of OriginState of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
: Played 5 games in total for New South Wales - International: Played 1 test for Australia in the 2000 World CupRugby League World CupThe Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by members of the Rugby League International Federation . It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954...