The scan results that could end Jarrod Croker's season have shone the spotlight on three players that could be forced out of their comfort zone to fill the void.
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Canberra Raiders captain Croker had scans on Monday afternoon after dislocating his left knee last weekend with club officials and teammates fearing his season could be over.
Raiders forward Luke Bateman says Canberra's lack of centre specialists waiting in the wings puts Blake Austin, Michael Oldfield and Brad Abbey in the frame to slot into the unfamiliar position.
It is a devastating blow to a Raiders outfit trying to stay in touch with the top eight ahead of their clash with Cronulla at Shark Park on Friday night.
Officials fear 27-year-old Croker is set to be ruled out for at least three weeks in a best case scenario, which would rub him out of a stint on the road against three of the NRL's top five sides in Cronulla, Melbourne, and Penrith.
"Losing captain is like losing a limb really," Bateman said.
"Everyone looks up to him, he’s played over 200 games and the experience he brings and calmness he brings to the team is huge. We don’t probably have any left centre specialists in the wings so losing him is massive for us.
"That left centre spot, we don’t really have any replacements there. I think Crokes is going to miss the rest of the year. It’s a massive loss for us, obviously the captain and a bloody good centre at that.
"I haven’t talked to him actually, I texted him [on Sunday] and said ‘that’s what happens when you’re 45 and try to keep playing footy’. It’s not looking good."
Austin slotted into the centres in Croker's absence while the possible return of Abbey and the impressive form of hat-trick hero Oldfield could allow coach Ricky Stuart to reshuffle his backline.
"I thought [Austin] played exceptional when he went out to the centres, he said he played a bit of centre when he was younger so maybe he does fill that spot," Bateman said.
"We’ve got Brad Abbey coming back so maybe Oldy goes in there and Abbey goes to the wing, I don’t know actually. I’ve got no idea."
Croker's absence will likely open the door for hooker Josh Hodgson to assume the captaincy role for a Canberra outfit gearing up for a tough run home.
Utility forward Siliva Havili says the Raiders won't suffer too much in the leadership department with the likes of Hodgson and veteran Sia Soliola steering the ship.
"It’s a big loss, Toots, for the club and for the team itself," Havili said.
"We’ve got Hodgo and we’ve got Sia, we’ve got a lot of senior players that can take on that leadership role and it’s something all the boys will be used to because Hodgo and that are pretty much leaders themselves."
NRL ROUND 19
Friday: Canberra Raiders v Cronulla Sharks at Shark Park, 6pm. Live on Fox League.
