sport, raiders, Jarrod Croker, Dally M awards, NRL grand final, Canberra Raiders, Raiders grand final

Canberra co-captain Jarrod Croker has declared his intent to be a Raider for life, revealing his desire to sign a new deal despite having more than 12 months left on his contract. Croker will lead the Green Machine's pursuit of a drought-breaking premiership when the Raiders play the Sydney Roosters in the grand final on Sunday. It will be the biggest moment of his record-breaking career as the Raiders chase their first premiership since 1994. It's understood the Raiders and Croker's management have started negotiations, but put further talks on hold until after the grand final. Croker's existing deal doesn't expire until the end of the 2020 season, but the 29-year-old has always extended his Raiders commitment with more than a year to run on existing contracts. "I think they've started having a chat ... I don't want to go anywhere and hopefully the Raiders don't want me to go anywhere," Croker said. "We said we're not going to worry about it while the finals are on. I'd love to be a one-club player, I'd love to stay here for life. "I'm feeling really good. I've only just turned 29 so hopefully I've got another five or so years left in me." Croker is already the leading point and try-scorer in Raiders history and has played 256 games since making his debut a decade ago. But winning a premiership and ending Canberra's 25-year wait for another title is the No. 1 goal. "I love this club. It's hard to know if you're ever going to play in one, but I never thought of anything else but doing it in a Raiders jersey. I'm so happy to be a part of it and lead the club out in their first grand final in 25 years," Croker said. "I've never wanted to go anywhere else. I've never thought about it. I've always had belief in this side." The Raiders have secured most of their roster for at least the 2020 season, with Jordan Rapana the only grand final player yet to make a decision about his future. The try-scoring winger has been linked to a deal in Japanese rugby union. English recruit John Bateman still has two years to run on his existing Raiders deal, but a change in management sparked talk about his future this week. Bateman was named the NRL's second-rower of the year at the Dally M Awards on Wednesday night, but his Raiders teammates were overlooked for top honours. Croker missed out on the captain and centre of the year gongs, while coach Ricky Stuart, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Josh Hodgson, Jack Wighton and Josh Papalii also missed out.

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