CANBERRA star Jamal Fogarty says children should be allowed into GIO Stadium free next Friday when club stalwart Jarrod Croker brings up 300 first grade games.
Croker was rested from the away clash with Wests Tigers so he can reach the milestone in front of his home crowd.
And halfback Fogarty made sure that decision did not backfire when he scored two tries and four goals – including the winning penalty – in a 20-19 win at Campbelltown Stadium.
“Hopefully everyone in the whole city comes to the game,” Fogarty told ABC.
“You know, if they can charge $10 for kids and bring their kids for free, that would be wonderful as well.
“If there’s someone that epitomises the Canberra Raiders then it’s Jarrod Croker.
“For the last two years he’s had a very rough trot. He’s been told to retire a couple of times.
“But he just loves footy like a five-year-old kid. You can see in the last couple of weeks, when he’s come back into our squad, how much belief and confidence he gives us.
“For him to have a home game … he’s from Goulburn, he’s been here forever, to knock up 300 in the capital…”
Veteran forward Josh Papalii said it would be a moving occasion.
“He’s the heart and soul of the club,” Papali’i said on radio at fulltime.
“It’s going to be an emotional time. Hopefully we can get it done. He’s a very close mate of mine.
“I’ve probably played my 274 games with Toots, bar tonight. Hopefully we can turn up and give Toots the win he deserves.”