Canberra Raiders co-captain Jarrod Croker is set to see a surgeon to discuss potentially career-saving, stem-cell treatment for his troublesome knee.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Croker's enjoying a two-week break in Queensland, where almost the entire Raiders squad remained following the completion of their NRL season.
Then the 30-year-old will return to Canberra to discuss surgery.
He's already undergone platelet-rich plasma injections to help the chronic knee problem that's threatening his career.
It's hoped the stem-cell treatment could be the answer to extending his 291-game career into a 14th NRL season.
He's the Green Machine's leading try and point scorer, and sits third on the overall NRL point-scoring table - behind just Cameron Smith and Hazem El Masri.
There are genuine concerns if the surgery isn't successful is could spell the end to one of the most decorated careers in Raiders' history.
MORE RAIDERS NEWS
Raiders prop Ryan James' Canberra future's also up in the air.
The 30-year-old's halfway through a two-year deal with the Green Machine, but he's been given permission to talk to other clubs.
It's believed the Brisbane Broncos were interested in offering him a two-year contract, which would see his time in Canberra end after just 12 games.
He also played two games on loan to Canterbury this year and was close to playing the final game of the regular season on loan with the Broncos.
James posted a message on social media hinting his time with the Raiders could be done.
"It's been a blast," he posted on Instagram on Saturday.
James' future could also decide whether former Queensland prop Dunamis Lui remained in Canberra.
If James goes then Lui might be offered a contract, otherwise his time with the Raiders could be done.
It's believed the Raiders currently have four spots remaining in next year's 30-man roster.
One of those was for a halfback, with the Raiders linked to every halfback looking for a new deal.
There's been reports they've offered Newcastle No.7 Mitchell Pearce a two-year deal, but Raiders officials emphatically denied that was the case.
They did consider signing unwanted Gold Coast half Ash Taylor on a one-year deal to help solve their halfback dilemma.
That was about a month ago, but it's believed that plan was shelved with Raiders coach Ricky Stuart opting to bide his time instead.
Taylor could still become an option at a later date, which would hopefully give 20-year-old Brad Schneider a year in NSW Cup - if the coronavirus doesn't cancel it for a third consecutive year - to develop as the next halfback or Taylor could prove he's the right option. Or another option, like Parramatta's Dylan Brown - who is off-contract at the end of 2022 - could become available.