The last year of Croker's eligibility in the under-20s could also double as the swansong for the competition as a whole.

"It's great to be part of, don't get me wrong," Croker said.

"We love playing in the under-20s and being on TV and those sort of things, but if it does end up leaving, there still needs to be a pathway, which there will be, for those younger guys.

"Whether that be in the third grade system before NSW Cup or something like that, there needs to be something for these young footballers.

"The talent they've got is unbelievable."

Croker's career path almost seems assured. The Crookwell junior has already been upgraded to the Raiders' top 25 players and spent the summer training with the club's NRL squad.

Others may not be so lucky. Only a small percentage of players from the NYC go on to a career in the NRL, with many lost to the game altogether once they hit 21.

Sure, there are always the exceptional ones - the Anthony Milfords, the Jarrod Crokers, the Josh Dugans - who graduate to the top grade while still teenagers.

But they are few and far between.

The most likely scenario is scrapping the under-20s and having young players revert to the old system of playing colts and reserve grade at club level.

"That way there's a more defined pathway, whereas with the 20s it's a massive jump even to training with first grade," Lachlan Croker said.

"Definitely more of a stepping stone. As long as there is still a pathway for the younger guys, I don't see a problem with it."

The Raiders have yet to name an under-20s captain for the season, but Croker would be a leading candidate despite having trained with the NRL squad in the off-season.

"It's always a massive honour to be named captain of any team, to be named captain of this team would be massive," he said.

"I'm not expecting to be named captain.

"I haven't done a lot of training with those guys and if they are happy for me to lead them then I'd be more than happy.

"But there are a lot of great young leaders who have been around since under-16s. I know whoever gets it would do a great job."

The Raiders are aiming to bounce back from their exit in the first week of the finals.

Premiership-winning prop Brett White has taken the coaching reins from Mick Mantelli.

Two of the players to watch out for are winger Nick Cotric and Australian Schoolboys winger Tre Williams.

"I think a few people will know about Nick Cotric by the end of this year, he's an unbelievable athlete," Croker said.

"Some of the things he can do on the football field is incredible.

"Then there is Tre, who is only a little fella, so the exact opposite of Nick, but he's a real game-changer."