Why Emre Guler's mum is still reaching for the tissues

Emre Guler's mother is still crying.

The rugby league world was touched by the Raiders club video of the 21-year-old being presented with his debut NRL jumper by his mum, Derya.

There were tears then in August 2018 and there were tears again midway through 2019, when Emre realised that if the Raiders continued their trajectory, they could be playing in the grand final.

His mum had a pre-booked holiday back to Turkey to see extended family.

In the lead-up to the Raiders' season-opening match against the Titans at GIO Stadium on Friday, Guler told of how his sister Elem was FaceTiming her mother from the ANZ Stadium stands as Emre ran out onto the field.

"Apparently mum was crying a lot then too - overseas this time," he told NRL.com.

"She was really upset she wasn't there but she planned that trip so long ago. She didn't look ahead that far.

"She was happy-sad. She was back home in Turkey with our family but she also knew what she was missing out on with me – a grand final is huge.

"The preliminary final she was trying to get home. We won that when we beat South Sydney but I had to say to her 'Look mum, you've worked hard your whole life you deserve this holiday so don't rush back'."

But his dad Sahin and sister were there to witness it all.

The result didn't go Canberra's way but the season was a beauty for Guler. 

His high-energy running game was evident every time he took the field.

In the last round of the 2019 club competition against the Warriors, Guler ran 142 metres in 38 minutes.

In the decider he got through eight runs and 12 tackles in just 23 minutes of game time as the Raiders came up agonisingly short of a premiership.

As the players tried to come to grips with the defeat the following day, Guler's spirits were lifted by a call-up to the Junior Kangaroos squad.

"I like to come on, make a difference, and get the boys moving forward. I base my game around making metres, play-the-balls as quick as I can," he said.

"Me working hard at training on my defence. I had a lot of help with Brett White and Sticky. I think that what helped me get the call-up for all those games.

"I'd love to earn a starting spot this year and get a feel for that. But me coming off the bench I'm more than happy to do. It worked last year."

Guler staked a claim by running in excess of 150 metres in just 42 minutes in the trial against the Bulldogs but he has stiff competition for the middle starting spot in the shape of Sia Soliola, Dunamis Lui, Josh Papalii, Corey Horsburgh, Ryan Sutton and Joe Tapine.

"I just need to keep working on attack and defence – not doing anything crazy different but just getting better at the basics," Guler said.

The Raiders enjoyed a 5-1 start to 2019, and only face one top-eight team (Manly) in the opening six rounds of 2020.