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The Canberra Raiders have moved to secure a host of big name players on long-term deals after waving goodbye to club junior Lachlan Croker. The Raiders are on the verge of extending NRL rookie of the year Nick Cotric's contract, while English hooker Josh Hodgson and powerhouse Junior Paulo are also close to inking new deals. Cotric proved a revelation for coach Ricky Stuart this season with the 18-year-old playing every game and scoring 16 tries in a stellar first campaign. The winger is currently signed until the end of next year but the Raiders are keen to extend his deal for another two seasons and keep Cotric in the capital until 2020. Outgoing half Croker admits he is facing an uncertain future after his time at the Raiders came to an end last month. Croker played one first grade game for the Raiders - against the Sydney Roosters in round two last year - and spent the majority of the past two seasons in the NSW Cup with Mounties. The 20-year-old endured a horror injury run at the Raiders and he's now stuck in a holding pattern as clubs wait for the NRL's final salary cap figure for 2018. The salary cap is expected to be set at $9.4 million but a number of clubs are being forced to shed players in a bid to become cap compliant, having already aimed higher. "I've got a few things in the pipeline but it's a pretty tough time to be off contract with the new cap and people over-compensating, and the cap not coming back to what they thought it was going to be," Croker said. "We're just trying to sort all of that out at the moment. I'm not in Canberra, we're just trying to sort everything out at the moment but definitely not here." The Goulburn junior's departure brings a temporary end to the family production line that delivered Raiders legend Jason Croker. Jason Croker played 318 games for the Raiders, but his nephew only managed one as he was stuck behind first-choice halves Blake Austin and Aidan Sezer. But Croker says his debut - a thrilling 21-20 win over the Roosters - was a day he'll never forget. "My debut was a very special week for me. I won't forget that in a hurry," Croker said. "The people that I met and the people I played with will always be special to me. The ones that have taught me a lot, I really appreciate what they've done." The salary cap saga forecasts an uncertain few months ahead for the likes of Croker and fellow departing Raider Eddie Aiono as they battle to win a spot on an NRL roster. Raiders lock Clay Priest could be following former Raiders assistant and new Canterbury coach Dean Pay to the Bulldogs. Priest made his NRL debut with Raiders and played 30 games over the past two seasons but the 28-year-old former labourer might be heading to Sydney in a straight swap for Bulldog Brad Abbey. Former Raiders halfback Sam Williams looks bound for a third stint in Canberra after he finished up at Wakefield in the English Super League. Williams would add some much-needed depth to Canberra's halves and add another playmaking string to Raiders coach Ricky Stuart's bow. Young guns Jack Murchie and Erin Clark have been added to the top squad, which will grow to 30 next year, while Mounties enforcer Makahesi Makatoa has earned a one-year extension. Former Queensland Cup forward Bill Cullen will have another chance to impress on a train-and-trial contract during pre-season after joining Mounties mid-year. Young North Queensland lock Corey Horsburgh has joined the club as a development player.

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