Not even the Canberra Raiders co-captain about to overtake him could stop that trademark Thurston laugh though.

The future Immortal was full of praise for the ultra-consistent Croker, who with a single point in the Raiders' crunch game against the Newcastle Knights at Lang Park on Saturday will go into outright third on the all-time NRL point-scoring list - overtaking Thurston in the process.

Croker and Thurston are currently tied on 2222 points - almost 200 behind El Masri (2418), with Smith way off in the distance on 2786.

Thurston said it was a massive effort from Croker, who still has three more seasons to run on his contract.

Given he's averaging more than 170 points every year that would bring him in the vicinity of Smith by the time that deal's done.

If the 30-year-old plays on beyond that, well dare to dream.

"If he stays injury free he'll gobble up Hazem in the next season or two, then it's just Smithy after that I think, " the Channel Nine commentator said.

"I think he'll certainly have Hazem in his sights. He'll need all those seasons to catch Smithy, but I'm pretty sure he'll gobble up Hazem in the next couple of years."

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Thurston said consistency had been the key to Croker, who has a career goal-kicking percentage of 80.55 and has scored 133 tries during his 288 NRL games as well - the most four-pointers scored by any Raider.

He felt Croker had been unlucky not to represent the NSW Blues in State of Origin - something he came close to as the 18^th man in 2014.

Croker's played a couple of games for NSW Country and three for the NRL All Stars, but has never quite cracked that Blues jersey.

But Thurston said the one thing Croker would crave above all else - an elusive premiership.

Again, Croker came close in 2019.

It's something Thurston's experienced twice - with the Canterbury Bulldogs in 2004 and the North Queensland Cowboys in 2015.

"He's been very consistent that's for sure. He's been around for a long time as well," Thurston said.

"He's the captain of the Raiders so he's got the respect of the playing group.

"It's good to see him breaking records - even if he is breaking mine," he laughed.

"He's always done the job for the Raiders and he's probably a little bit unlucky not to don the Blues jersey.

"He's always been there abouts when the Raiders are flying high.

"To be able to be where he is he should be extremely proud of what he's been able to achieve in the game.

"I think the top of the list for him would be to win a premiership before he finishes. I'm sure he'd give that record away to win a premiership."

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart gave Croker the captaincy in 2015 - his second season in charge of the Green Machine.

Since then Croker's become not only one of the most important players on the field, but an essential part of the club's fabric as well.

To add a cherry on top of the achievement, if Croker scores against the Knights, it would be in his good mate Sam Williams' 100^th game for the Raiders.

"It'll be a wonderful achievement and we're all expecting it and hoping that it happens [Saturday] night for Jarrod," Stuart said.

"And that it also happens at a very special moment along with Sammy Williams for his 100^th Raiders game too.

"They're both best of friends, their families are very close. You couldn't ask for a better moment having the opportunity to pass JT's point-scoring record and to do it on the day of his best mate's 100^th game.

"It's a wonderful opportunity for him and hopefully it's a positive day for the occasion they both have in front of them."

NRL ROUND 20

Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Newcastle Knights at Lang Park, 5.30pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Jordan Rapana, 2. Harley Smith-Shields, 3. Jarrod Croker, 4. Sebastian Kris, 5. Semi Valemei, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Sam Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. Emre Guler, 11. Corey Harawira-Naera, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Hudson Young. Interchange: 14. Tom Starling, 15. Matthew Timoko, 16. Iosia Soliola, 17. Joseph Tapine. Reserves: 18. Matt Frawley, 19. Ryan James, 20. Bailey Simonsson, 21. Dunamis Lui.

Knights squad: 1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Enari Tuala, 3. Kurt Mann, 4. Bradman Best, 5. Hymel Hunt, 6. Phoenix Crossland, 7. Jake Clifford, 8. Jacob Saifiti, 9. Jayden Brailey, 10. Daniel Saifiti, 11. Tyson Frizell, 12. Mitchell Barnett, 13. Connor Watson. Interchange: 14. Sauaso Sue, 15. David Klemmer, 16. Josh King, 17. Brodie Jones. Reserves: 18. Jirah Momoisea, 19. Simi Sasagi, 20. Tex Hoy, 21. Mitchell Pearce.