Melbourne Storm and Queensland Maroons halfback Cooper Cronk will become just the 11th player to play 300 NRL matches for a single club in a momentous preliminary final on Saturday night against Canberra Raiders at AAMI Park.
On top of that milestone, for the first time in history, two members of the 300-club will take the field in the same team.
Cronk will be joined by his Queensland skipper Cameron Smith (333 games) when he becomes just the 25th player to reach the milestone.
Press play to see Captain Cam go one-on-one with Cooper in the video above
Cronk will be presented with the match ball from his 300th game following the match against the Raiders, officially anointing him part of the 300 Club.
“This will truly be a special night for Melbourne,” NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said.
“They will be achieving something never done before – two 300-game players playing alongside each other. And for that to happen in the Club’s most important game of the season adds even more weight to it.
“Cooper has also achieved this feat while entrenching himself in both Queensland and Australian squads over many years. He has been a remarkable player and deserves his place in this exclusive Club.
“Importantly, he has also made an enormous contribution to the game off the field. He is a player who cares as much about his reputation as he does his form on the field and his image reflects that.
“On behalf of all Rugby League fans I would like to congratulate him on this achievement, and also the Club for this remarkable first.”
THE 300 CLUB (24 players)
App Player Club/s Years
355 Darren Lockyer Brisbane 1995-2011
350 Terry Lamb Wests, Canterbury 1980-1996
349 Steve Menzies Manly, Northern Eagles 1993-2008
347 Corey Parker Brisbane 2001-2016
336 Brad Fittler Penrith, Sydney Roosters 1989-2004
333 Cameron Smith Melbourne 2002-2016
332 Cliff Lyons Norths, Manly 1985-1999
330 Nathan Hindmarsh Parramatta 1998-2012
328 Andrew Ettingshausen Cronulla 1983-2000
325 Geoff Gerard Parramatta, Manly, Penrith 1974-1989
318 Jason Croker Canberra 1991-2006
317 Hazem El Masri Bulldogs 1996-2009
315 Paul Langmack Canterbury, Wests, Easts 1983-1999
315 Luke Priddis Canberra, Brisbane, Penrith, St George Ill 1997-2010
313 Steve Price Bulldogs, Warriors 1994-2009
313 Brent Kite St George Illawarra, Manly, Penrith 2002-2015
312 Ruben Wiki Canberra, Warriors 1993-2008
309 Petero Civoniceva Brisbane, Penrith 1998-2012
307 Brett Kimmorley N’castle, Hunter, Melb, N Eag, Cron, C’bury 1995-2010
303 Anthony Watmough Northern Eagles, Manly, Parramatta 2002-2015
302 Anthony Minichiello Sydney Roosters 2000-2014
301 Luke Ricketson Sydney Roosters 1991-2005
300 Scott Prince Nth Qld, Brisb, Wests Tigers, Gold Coast 1998-2013
300 John Morris N’castle, P’matta, Wests Tigers, Cronulla 2001-2014
*Stats courtesy of David Middleton, League Information Services