Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is likely to re-sign with the Sydney Roosters soon, but the Kiwi enforcer has certainly been getting a good look around Canberra. The Roosters are holding a pre-season camp in the nation's capital for the second year running. Warea-Hargreaves and his fiancee were also spotted eating out at a Kingston Foreshore restaurant two weeks ago and it is understood he met Raiders coach Ricky Stuart that same weekend to contemplate an offer from the club for 2016 and beyond. Hargreaves was close to doing a deal with the Raiders. The Raiders announced last weekend that they' had withdrawn the offer to Waerea-Hargreaves. It should only be a matter of time before he re-commits to the Roosters.

Canberra Raiders prop David Shillington says Jarrod Croker's "outstanding" form in times of turmoil made him a no-brainer as the club's new captain, despite his tender years. Shillington, who filled the role on occasion when Croker's predecessor, Terry Campese, was out injured, said Croker's stellar displays when the Raiders have missed the finals the past two years screamed leadership. "His form's been fantastic and in a team that's generally been struggling for two years, the guys playing well have to be highly motivated and committed to the club," Shillington said. "It's a great indicator of where his head's at. He hasn't been kicking stones, has been working on his game and was one spot away from NSW this year." Raiders coach Ricky Stuart will announce his leadership group when the squad returns from Christmas break, and Shillington said it was up to the senior players to rally around the club's youngest-ever captain. "We need to show him plenty of support on the field, but also off the field in different situations," Shillington said. "Sometimes as a captain you can feel it's a bit of a burden and there's a weight on your shoulders, but it should not be like that for him. The boys have respect for him as a player and person and that's the most important thing."

Canberra Capitals players will head up Canberra United's cheer squad when they shoot for W-League glory in Perth on Sunday. In a happy coincidence, the Capitals played West Coast Waves in Perth on Saturday night, ahead of United's grand final against the Glory on Sunday. Several Caps players changed their flights to stick around for the decider. "There's a few of us who have been able to change our flights and a few of us are looking forward to, hopefully, being a part of a Canberra championship," Capitals veteran Jess Bibby said. "We'll have a nice, noisy bunch there ready to cheer them on. It's pretty cool it's worked out that way so we can go and see it." Like the WNBL, the W-League is searching for a new broadcast partner after the ABC announced it was scrapping coverage of the two women's leagues after this season.

As Canberra United goalkeeper Chantel Jones is required to keep focused, as any slip-up can cost her team dearly. The American knows all about jet lag, but the trip across the Nullarbor for Sunday's W-League grand final against Perth Glory proved too much. Her teammates Grace Gill, Michelle Heyman and Stephanie Ochs took full advantage, with Gill posting this picture and tweeting, "Rule one of team flights: do not sleep on team flights." The United girls whope the cat nap does the trick before Jones tries to shut down Perth's star-studded strike force, led by Golden Boot winner Kate Gill.

Canberra cricketer Ryan Carters will have extra motivation to clear the boundary rope during the Big Bash League with the Sydney Sixers. Carters is continuing his wonderful charity work with the Learning for a Better World (LBW) Trust, hoping to raise $66,666 to support the education of 500 underprivileged women in the Indian city of Mumbai. Carters started the online fund-raising program last year when he was with the Sydney Thunder and has carried it over with his move to the Sixers.

Jack Taylor dreamt of following in his late grandfather's footsteps and becoming an NRL referee, but his pop steered him towards basketball. Taylor is glad he heeded the advice, the 22-year-old promoted to the WNBL panel this week. His grandfather, Ralph, was a top whistle blower in the NSWRL before it expanded to the NRL. "I had a conversation with Pop when I was 10. He said. 'Name an NRL official,' and I rattled off 10," Taylor said. "Then he said, 'Name a referee of another code,' and I couldn't do it. He said you don't want to be in the NRL, it's too much about the officials, and not enough about the game." When Taylor spotted a flyer advertising a referee course late that year in Belconnen Basketball Stadium, his new career path was set. "Pop was always a hero of mine and he lost a cancer battle eight years ago. It's always been my goal to go one better than him and make him proud. His photo sits above my desk in my office and in the lounge room at home. Hopefully I'll have four or five years in the WNBL with a finals appointment in that journey, then a call-up to the NBL. My ultimate goal is to officiate a gold medal game at the Olympics."