Wednesday June 6th, 2018. We are just weeks away from the first game of State of Origin this year and every man and his dog have been naming their sides since before the first football was kicked.
One of the positions that have been discussed the most is the left centre position. Curtis Scott, Latrell Mitchell and Jack Bird have been in discussion for this position but there’s one player who deserves to be named in this position, someone that I haven’t ever seen mentioned, Jarrod Croker.
One thing Jarrod Croker brings to the table is experience. This in my opinion is the most important factor when it comes to Origin. Croker has played seven representative games for Country, the PM’s XIII and the All Stars. He knows what to expect in the Origin arena.
Croker is capable of leading a successful team around, having displayed this throughout the 2016 season where he captained the Raiders to a preliminary final (which was almost a grand final).
Jarrod Croker will likely miss out on Origin, but deserves to be there. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
Jarrod Croker has far better discipline that his left centre counterparts. He has made the second most tackles of all the left centres in contention, with his 124 tackles being beaten by only Nird (who has spent most of this season in the halves). His tackle efficiency is above 80 per cent, again second best of the left centre contenders.
Curtis Scott showed us last week what he can do when niggled (something to be expected in the Origin arena) and shouldn’t be picked. Mitchell has let his emotions get the better of him in the past in big games (such as kicking the ball out on the full twice in the preliminary final last year) and Fittler should blacklist him as a result. Croker on the other hand is immaculate when it comes to keeping his cool and would relish the chance to play origin.
Brad Fittler has made it clear he wants club combinations to play a key role in his Origin team. So why not fill his team up with some boom Raiders players? Nick Cotric can line up alongside him on the left edge, where they can form a combination with Shannon Boyd and Aidan Sezer. This Raiders edge has been very exciting this year and I’d love to see these players to show us what they are made of in State of Origin.
There you have it. These are the reasons Jarrod Croker should be an origin certainty for not just 2018, but for years to come. The culture Fittler is building is exciting and I hope that he follows through with picking Jarrod Croker, who cannot step a foot wrong and would be a massive improvement over the past players who have lined up on the left edge.
Matt
Guest
Surely he's not a better goal kicker than either Cleary or Maloney. He needs to tuck his arm in, like it's somehow going to get tangled up. If there were no young players coming through, maybe. But that's not the case at all. There is plenty of talent going around and honestly, he wouldn't make a squad of 40.
Ben Inglis
Roar Rookie
It was 100% serious
Ben Inglis
Roar Rookie
How dare you
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Woods isn't playing well, so no. He'll be lucky to play Origin again
The Barry
Roar Guru
So, you’d pick Woods at prop for the same reason?
Raugeee
Guest
It was the great Jack Gibson who gave Clyde, Daley, Lazarus etc their first Blues guernseys. That was 1989, they lost 3-0 and some were doubting Gibson's decisions. Those players went on to form the nucleus of the Blues dynasty of 90 - 97, winning five of those years.
Alan
Guest
The only discussions jack bird is in if he’ll even make first grade and if he can lay off the pies for a few weeks.
Alan
Guest
Especially given he’s a kiwi and in dreadful form.
Brad Thorne
Roar Pro
Paul Pierce at halfback you say.?! Could be a master stroke.!
Adam
Guest
That QLD side is no reflection on Meningas ability as a coach. They could have coached themselves. Have a look at his record as Raiders coach instead. Dugan is ok but I'd go with Aitken who is playing great on a regular basis.
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
NO WAY!
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Crokers biggest strength is his experience. That will get nullified in Origin
no one in particular
Roar Guru
And every time he lists Nightingale an angel gets probed
Adam
Guest
Listing the least likely to play for NSW in 2018 are we?
Dodgy dragons
Guest
Tickets please, before you push thru the turnstile. City rail stops more attacking players!!
Paul
Roar Guru
Ben, Croker needs to mark up on other centres and beat them consistently both in attack and defence, to have any chance of getting into th NSW side. A few weeks ago, Aiken comprehensively outplayed Inglis and that's the sort of game that sticks in a coach's mind. He had a chance last night against Manly to really stamp his mark on his position but had an average Club game at best and his goal kicking wasn't SOO quality. I can't see him getting a run.
Sideline Commentator
Roar Guru
And another one dies when you list the hooker as a back.
Forty Twenty
Guest
Sezer seems to have all of the talent but maybe the pressure gets to him. It's a tough job being a 1st grader in the halves. Cotric on the other hand has rep footy written all over him, outstanding player.
DP. Schaefer
Guest
Peeko, They weren't a chance but, apparently, were in 'discussions'.
DP. Schaefer
Guest
Kenoath, The Morris twins actually playing well and wouldn't let the side down if thrown in. Might need a new centre and fb if you want a really innovative backline.