Canberra Raiders co-captain Jarrod Croker's knee is feeling good post stem-cell surgery.
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But the proof will be in the running - hopefully before the end of the year.
That's the plan Croker told The Canberra Times before he went in for surgery - where he had stem cells taken from his "gut" and put into his knee.
It's hoped it will help alleviate the pain that's been dogging his knee for that past two seasons.
He had several rounds of platelet-rich plasma injections throughout the 2021 NRL season, but was only able to play 12 games before his season ended after round 22.
There were concerns the chronic condition could bring an end to his storied 291-game career if the stem-cell treatment didn't work.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart spoke to Croker during the week and the early signs were positive.
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Stuart said they would give the 31-year-old all the time he needed to get his rehabilitation right.
"Later down the track we'll know more about Jarrod," he said.
"I actually saw Jarrod [on Wednesday]. He's had the stem cells and to be honest he's looking really good.
"His weight's good, he's looking healthy, there's no real soreness in his knee at the moment, but he's not going to know until he starts loading it up with a little bit of running.
"We won't rush that, it's just giving him every opportunity to get his knee back to where it needs to be."