Canberra Raiders have already suffered their first injury blow of the 2021 NRL season. And this season has only just finished.
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Raiders captain Jarrod Croker underwent shoulder surgery on Tuesday that could force him to miss at least the first four rounds of next year.
He hurt his shoulder just five minutes into the Green Machine's 30-10 preliminary final loss to the Melbourne Storm in Brisbane two weeks ago, tearing his labrum and rupturing his rotator cuff.
Somehow he managed to play out the rest of the game.
It means the Raiders will be without their mainstay at left centre and also their goal kicker when round one kicks off next year.
While centre Curtis Scott will return from a leg injury and winger Bailey Simonsson from a shoulder problem to bolster their outside backs, Raiders coach Ricky Stuart might have to call on one of his young guns to cover Croker's absence.
Stuart gave Harley Smith-Shields and Matt Timoko their NRL debuts this season, with both possibilities to cover Croker.
They will also welcome Penrith fullback Caleb Aekins to the club on a one-year deal, bringing him into the mix.
Michael Oldfield would have also been an option, but he looks set to leave the club after four seasons in lime green.
He's been linked with a move to Parramatta, but nothing has been confirmed.
The Raiders suffered a terrible injury toll in 2020, missing seven regular first graders at one stage of their campaign.
David Polkinghorne
Covering the Raiders, Cavalry, cycling and racing, plus everything else that involves sport in the ACT, for The Canberra Times. Basically I love sport and watching it is a full-time job. Email: david.polkinghorne@canberratimes.com.au
Covering the Raiders, Cavalry, cycling and racing, plus everything else that involves sport in the ACT, for The Canberra Times. Basically I love sport and watching it is a full-time job. Email: david.polkinghorne@canberratimes.com.au
