Two years ago the words “A star is born at AAMI Park!” were heard as the gushing accolade for a teenager who in just his second NRL game, coolly as you like, sunk the match winning Golden Point field goal.
That teenager, of course, was Brodie Croft. He only appeared one more time that year wearing the jersey that for 12 seasons had been wrapped around the torso of superstar Cooper Cronk.
Then, in his first official outing as the successor to the great halfback, he produced a near man-of-the-match performance against Leeds in the World Cup Challenge.
And yet after just five games into the season he was gone from the team. An error-riddled Storm found themselves tenth on the ladder and much of it was put down to Croft overplaying his hand, and his lack of structure.
A more subdued and “solid” Croft eventually returned to the team and played in the grand final against his former mentor.
But then after playing the first 22 rounds of this season – just three from the finals – for a team on the verge of the minor premiership, he was dropped again.
As everyone knows, no player makes it at the Melbourne Storm if they don’t put the effort in.
That’s why when Croft heard Bellamy’s media explanation for the decision (“It gave me no pleasure. The kid tries hard”) he knew his time was up.
The star has talent and tries hard, but it’s not enough.
And notice the sad replacement of the word ‘star’ with ‘kid’ and ‘fella’. In the final game against the Cowboys with Croft “warming the rested Cameron Munster’s No.6 jersey” Gus Gould asked Billy Slater: “What do you make of this young fella Brodie Croft Billy. Still developing?”
And it’s not really all about the performances of Croft. It’s also about the rise of a superstar whose ascendancy, it seems, will result in the dimming of the star that shone so briefly at AAMI Park two years ago.
Brodie Croft of the Storm (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Oh yes, Ryan Papenhuyzen. The skinny “third string” fullback whose plutonium-powered entry on to the big stage (112 avg running metres, including over 200 avg running metres as starting fullback, eight tries, 13 linebreaks, 59 tackle busts) has the Wests Tigers reliving the same mortal dread they feel every time they watch another of their bargain priced products Josh Addo-Carr streak down the field.
If his slight frame and disconcerting tendency to bend his neck in tackles don’t prove his undoing, he’s going to get better. Although, other than gaining strength, I don’t see all that much room for improvement.
Exhilarating acceleration and top end speed combined with an impressive cardio capacity, he already has a deft late offload. During his Round 9 dismantling of Parramatta just watch the break he made, with the monster Blake Ferguson bearing down on him, that sent Addo-Carr to the tryline
But what happened to Brodie Croft? That combination of fluency, sleight of hand and bristling confidence exhibited against Leeds has not been seen since.
A linebreak or two, even a brilliant tryscoring one, but the underwhelming nature of his tenure brought murmurings (Johnathan Thurston has been a constant non-malicious critic of both his defensive and playmaking performances) from supporters. I’m reluctant to admit that I called for his axing midseason for Hughes and Papenhuyzen. It has been the right call, but a sad one.
He is strongly built and at the height to nail a large forward around the hips or legs. But if he he isn’t in the perfect position could also be run over, a common scenario this season while defending his tryline; a defensive weakness that his replacement Jahrome Hughes doesn’t appear to share.
Ryan Papenhuyzen has been a revelation at fullback for the Storm. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
He seems timid and uncertain with ball in hand. Often almost just handing it off to the nearest runner while Cameron Smith and Cameron Munster run the plays, attack the line and offload with cutout passes. He would take the planned dutiful kicks on the last tackle and into touch.
Is it because of Cameron Smith? Since Croft’s axing last season Smith clearly imposed himself on the playmaking to the extent that he is now a hooker and a half back. Croft – once an exuberant precocious playmaker exhilarated at the prospect of steering the greatest team of the modern era – has become a mere foot soldier under General Smith.
In an on-ground interview after the Anzac Day clash against the Warriors in which the Storm luckily scraped home, Smith jovially responded to a question about Croft’s match sealing field goal that would have embarrassed the young halfback: “I came across to play the ball and I saw Brodie sprinting across to our left-hand side where Cameron Munster already was. So I turned around and I said, ‘Get over here and kick the field goal!’”
He did but only after it deflected off the upright. His response wasn’t one of euphoria, or even of relief. More, a withering self belief and a little simmering resentment towards his skipper.
He mentioned mid-season about seeking professional advice on confidence issues.
Storm’s partly enforced developmental model provides exciting times for supporters to see players slowly emerge but also to feel stress at the inevitability of losing some to calls from home and big contracts.
The unfortunate fate of Croft has coincided with the uplifting one of Max King. A couple of months ago the forward was withering away in reserve grade for the wooden spooner Titans and now he is a finals player for the Minor Premiers: “Every Game 1 play I go back and think on everything that has happened and I get a bit emotional. It is crazy how it has happened so quickly and I appreciate every opportunity I have been given”
But back to Croft. Did he exceed expectations too early? Has the pressure of having Cooper Johns and Billy Walters, sons of legends, breathing down his neck and wearing the great Cronk’s no.7 jersey proven too much?
Ironically, with his confidence shot, what he most needs are some words from his predecessor, one of the mentally toughest players of all time.
Many have said he needs more time, that he is still learning.
But perhaps he just doesn’t fit in this team. The Melbourne Storm may not be for everyone. “Just playing your role” doesn’t suit the natural game of some. It can be stifling and self defeating for a ball playing half
It’s not often mentioned that James Maloney made his NRL debut with the Storm in 2009. I watched that game. Smallish but fast eager and aggressive, I didn’t quite know what to think of him.
In light of the astute recruitment of five eighth Brett Finch and imminent rise of the Victorian raised Englishman Gareth Widdop, he left for the Warriors and it was then that I knew what to think of him.
Two years later he was instrumental in knocking out his former team in a preliminary final and went on to claim a premiership with the Roosters and then to deliver a second reason for Storm to lament a lost recruiting opportunity by denying them a premiership with Cronulla’s historic 2016 grand final victory.
James Maloney is a winner and even more so against the Storm. But at least they helped him be one. On the eve of that 2016 grand final he admitted: “I learnt a lot about footy down there. It was a big part of me going down there”.
Maybe it’s time for you to go Brodie. Like other former Storm halves before you such as Maloney, Cody Walker, and Gareth Widdop, who moved on to become creative playmakers, and prospered.
If you do, I wish you the best. Just don’t play well against the Storm.
Gus O
Roar Rookie
Do you remember when Qld were reluctant to select Slater at fullback because he was too small? And then reluctant to select both Matt Bowen and Slater in the same team because they were both small? Who would you kick towards of the Storm back three? Whoever it is, you need a really good kick chase.
RoryStorm
Guest
Andrew I think we will see Croft back in the team this week with Hughes back to fullback which is his rightful position, pushing Papanhuyzen back to the interchange. Hughes is not a halfback I'm afraid. I think Bellamy was clutching at straws by playing Hughes in the halves and that has been stifling Munster's decision making as well. I was not very impressed with either Bellamy and C Smith in the way they both threw Croft under the bus so publicly, so early in the season last year. It was about the fourth or fifth? game last year when Croft was dropped and Ryley Jacks was promoted to to half back. C Smith at the press conference after the game said if Croft was to get a chance to play in the senior team again he had to back himself and play his own style of game. By memory Bellamy said something similar. It got me to thinking that Croft had been following the coaching staff's instructions and when it didn't work, Croft was the one in the bright lights taking the blame. Is it any wonder Croft has struggled with confidence at times. Too easy to blame Croft for last year's GF defeat when the forwards was where it was lost in the first half. They were like pop guns up against the Rooster's double barrell shotguns. If the Storm are going to be any chance of going through to this year's GF then they must bring Croft back into the side. Also Bellamy needs to give Vunivalu a few home truths. He needs to follow the lead of the other Fijian winger (Parramatta) and take note. Vunivalu should be consistently smashing opponents when he's bringing the ball back from his own try line instead of dying passively. Also we miss Welch big time & I don't know why you would pick Stimson in the side and not even give him a run. A very good article.
Steve
Guest
I absolutely hope Brodie Croft does land at the Broncos. I have also heard this rumour of a Broncos move. Dearden not ready. Croft the organizing and kicking number 7 right next to Milford in the 6. Croft is exactly the 7 that Milford needs next to him to exploit Milford's running game. Boyd and McCullough need to be tapped on the shoulder and told its Q Cup in 2020 or seek an opportunity elsewhere.
Beergardener
Roar Pro
Joey Johns mentioned Croft to Broncos on nine this afternoon. As a Broncos fan I think it would be a good fit. Croft seems a good organising, kicking half. At the moment Milf is our only kicker so it is obvious what is happening. Could have Milf at 1, Dearden at 7, Croft at 6 and Turpin at 9. McCullough on the bench. Segeyaro, OSullivan and Boyd for cover
Josh H
Roar Rookie
Cowboys probably have their hands full a bit at the moment, they've put a lot of eggs in the Clifford basket and signing Croft wouldn't exactly be the best confidence booster for him. They're both pretty similar sorts of players. Obviously Morgan will always be there but I think you're also forgetting about Te Maire Martin. Bringing in Croft would mean 4 NRL-level halves which is far too much to juggle. Not that I necessarily endorse this as a permanent move, but Green seems pretty set on accommodating his wealth of lock forwards by playing Asiata at five-eighth. An extra half filling that spot may cause a knock-on effect preventing the likes of Jensen, Hola and Gilbert from establishing themselves in the first team. Just doesn't seem like a wise move in my opinion. Fair suggestion though.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Yes, I think a move to the Broncos to duke it out with their youngsters for a starting half spot would be good for Croft and the Broncos. I think he would be their starting half at least next season if he went and competition for spots always is a good thing which at the moment there doesn’t seem to be any at the Broncos with Turpin starting. Probably also knows Turpin and Siebold from their Melbourne days.
Joe
Roar Rookie
I agree that its time for Croft to go and I hope he is picked up by another NRL club as like James Maloney as I think there is a place for him. He works very hard on his game and its obvious this year that he has worked on his defense as he has taken down big men by himself whereas in previous years he had a tendency to drift away from them expecting someone else to make the tackle. He has a great running game as well. Unfortunately for him the rise of Papenhuyzen and Hughes has made it impossible for him. Bellamy is the type of coach who will pick the best players and find a place for them. This was clear when he told Papenhuzen he would be debuting as a ‘bench fullback” playing in the middle. He knew he had to get him in the side somehow and it soon became obvious that he belonged in the starting side along with Hughes so it became a 3 fit into 2 positions scenario and Croft was basically the ‘least best player’. It’s hard as he really has worked hard and was looking forward to being the Storms long term 7 after Cronk but that is the reality of professional sport. Also very happy to see Max King doing so well and getting his first taste of finals footy just months after joining the club. Brings great enthusiasm off the bench and seems to be well liked by the team.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Yep ! Good article. It is a common predicament for a lot of good footballers. Sometimes they just don’t fit into a team’s make up of style or the influence of the team’s dominant personnel. Brodie Croft has undoubted ability to be an NRL footballer, but for one reason or another, he has not fit into the Bellamy / Smith system and they have finally shown little trust in him being able to do the job that they wanted him to do. He has had some defensive issues which has led to an obvious weakness right through the Storm’s right side defence all season, and he lacked confidence with the ball at times , afraid to make errors perhaps ? So with a month out from the finals the brainstrust made the decision to leave him out of their finals plans. He has had his papers marked now , only to be used as a last resort, at least whilst Bellamy & Smith are in charge of things. He should be looking to move on ASAP. A fresh start with a different role and where an immortal is not looking over your shoulder may be just what Croft needs to blossom into the player he may well be.
Lonnie Gilroy
Roar Rookie
Good read, thanks Andrew
Brendon
Roar Rookie
While currently is agree, I think it would be short sighted and a mistake by the Storm and Croft for him to leave. His current biggest obstacle, in my eyes at least, is that he isn’t allowed to control the game like a standard half. Smith is our leader, and Croft is no where near his level. The Storm attack right now benefits from Hughes and Munster both offering the role of running half, with Smith the on field general. But when Smith retires, there is a need for someone else to step up and take the mantle of on field general. I don’t think that suits Munster (amazing player and runner, not a director of plays) or Hughes, I think that’s when Croft shines. Croft and the Storm should stick with it, at least for another 2 years. He is not learning from the best half back but he can be learning from the best mind the game has ever seen. He should be relishing this opportunity.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
They need Papanhuyzen at fullback, and Hughes is a good player who should be in the side. Unfortunately, Croft hasn't stepped up to the next level yet and may be intimidated by playing with Smith. Maybe the Broncos should give him a go, they're not stacked with good halves at the moment.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Well written and I tend to agree with you.
The Barry
Roar Guru
That’s a great article. I like Croft as a player. I thought he was better than Hughes against the Cowboys but yeah his defence is an issue. Maybe leaving is the best thing for him? He’s too good a player and natural halves are too rare for him to be playing reggies. One club that springs to mind is the Cowboys. Clifford and Morgan are both running halves not entirely comfortable with steering a team around the park or doing all the tactical kicking.