Jarrod Croker is the heart and soul of the Green Machine and the Canberra Raiders want to make him a Raider for life.

The Raiders are in talks to lock in their squad beyond 2018, when most of them are contracted until.

They've already extended Jordan Rapana, Joey Leilua and Jack Wighton until at least the end of 2019, and have begun talks to ensure they don't end up in the same mess as the Wests Tigers did this season.

The Tigers had four key players all off contract this season, which contract negotiations turn into a saga for the struggling club.