Jarrod Croker is back to lead the Canberra Raiders in their first NRL trial game on Friday night, just months after stem cell surgery to mend his failing knee.
The 31-year-old centre underwent the radical treatment in October after missing long stretches through last season due to issues caused by cartilage degeneration.
He only returned to running after Christmas but said playing Friday night’s trial against the Sydney Roosters at Leichhardt Oval had always been the timetable he was working towards.
“I always knew I’d be right to do full training after Christmas, and if I was right to have a go at a trial game that was always the plan,” he said.
“(It) gets some good minutes in and it gets some confidence back.
“I need to go out and play good footy. I didn’t play good footy last year, it was a disappointing year but (we’re) putting all that behind us and then looking forward.”
The stem cell injection surgery is the same procedure NSW captain James Tedesco had this off-season and has previously returned from successfully, as have Boyd Cordner and Aaron Woods among others.
Croker said the recovery process was about moving as little as possible for up to six weeks, before returning to conditioning and weights training after around two months.
“You’re literally not allowed to do anything for four to six weeks,” he said.
“You’re pretty much bedridden … you try not to even pick up the young fella for a month. It was easy to do for a little while because you’re a bit sore and tender around the belly for a couple of weeks.
“After that you sort of feel like there’s nothing really wrong here but you can’t do anything.”
Named in the centres in a strong Raiders side, Croker is expected to play the first 40 minutes before reassessing his body at halftime.
“I haven’t looked towards next week yet. I’ll just focus on going out … and playing well and trying to make a bit of a difference,” he said.
“I want to play round one – I want to play every game this year. That’s the way I’ve always been when playing footy.
“It’s certainly not a muck around or a fitness blowout tomorrow night. It’s put your best foot forward and try and do your best to get picked … round one.
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