Young Brodie Croft was a Stormer in 2019 but is now a Bronco.
Plenty of players leave the Storm as their value increases and they can’t be retained under the cap, but Croft’s case is a bit unusual for the Storm in that he’s been groomed for a fair while as a spine member at a club which is reluctant to part with those players.
It’s not a case of wanting to keep him but losing out to a big offer either.
It is also unusual to drop a halfback who had been part of a hugely successful season on the eve of the finals and it was a little bizarre seeing Cameron Smith treat Croft with a degree of contempt, it seemed, on the field and even mock him after the game in a mild enough fashion.
Croft will need to be mentally very tough to overcome the rejection by the Storm and Smith along with the huge amount of pressure to come up with the goods at the Broncos. Justin Hodges has described him as a mini Cooper Cronk and he has been elevated to the leadership group.
It’s got a fair dose of false optimism about it with a small touch of panic.
From Croft’s point of view, it appears to be a great move because if he can fulfil the potential the Broncos believe he has, he’s in an outfit with plenty of promise and with potentially the comp’s best pack. Logic suggests that the Storm have had a good look at him for a few years and had such little faith in him that they replaced him as they were heading to a possible title win and that’s pretty good evidence that he isn’t a future top halfback at any club.
Hearing how the Broncos are quite rightly trying to build up his confidence reminds me of a Manly signing many years ago. It was Michael Witt from the Eels and although I hadn’t heard of him, I became pretty keen to see him play when the club described him as a potential SOO player in the near future. Once I’d seen him play a few times, I was completely baffled as to how they had come to that conclusion.
As for Croft, the chance has opened up to prove his critics wrong and have a great career at the Broncos. Craig Bellamy and Smith don’t expect it to happen but Anthony Seibold must believe it’s possible, and it will be another fascinating aspect of the 2020 season.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Check your shoe champion , most likely source.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I'm always making silly predictions, you ''know'' that. The Storm had no trouble judging Croft.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I used to remind some incredibly arrogant posters on the Manly Silvertails site what they said in recent history and all hell broke loose . A so called ''valued long term member'' claimed the Eagles were heading for the spoon in 17 unless the club listened to him and dropped players like Api and Blake Green and put Cameron Cullen ( I'm not making it up) and others in first grade. We finished in the 8 , they rejected all of his advice and apparently I was gravely out of order poking a bit of fun at him. Putting abusive and bold predictions down isn't a great idea if you can'y handle the fallout. They're better off sticking to the pub where they can deny their own nonsense. Joe shows how to respond.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
It could have gone either way Joe and still could believe it or not. It's refreshing to see your attitude to perhaps being incorrect, we all are now and again. Beware the player rejected by the Storm , particularly in Crofts circumstances. I won't dwell on Curtis Scott.............................
Joe
Roar Rookie
After the first 2 rounds I thought this post was genius...sadly after 8 it now is crazy talk. :crying:
Crow
Roar Pro
Would you like to review your post now after 2 from 8.
Crow
Roar Pro
Great idea. Croft to England.
Crow
Roar Pro
Months later we learn they are not Sezar or Wighton
Larry1950
Guest
Daz, I thought Jerome Hughes struggled in those 2019 finals & against the raiders Papenhuyzen failed to look for support too often so we'll see this season with their cupboardblooking bare. That said, if wantaway Josh Addo-Carr didn't completely stuff that run back with an inexplicable drop, they maid another GF from a lacklustre effort.
Larry1950
Guest
Dogs, that can be said of a lot of the nrl's halves combinations, JT used to hit & hold a lot while waiting for Cooper etc to arrive. If Croft just brings a bit of stability, not super Cooper Cronk stuff, the rest will fall to the other backline guys who do have talent. Brisbane just need to move on from the annual quest for "the next Alfie", their last premiership team contained an absolute plugger at half & he never got in Lockyer's way.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
Just not sure the Broncos need 2 halves who can't tackle. Other teams will exploit that. Either directing traffic that way, or when the Bronco's plug it by using an enforcer next to them to cover the defence. Spreading it wide cause you can't cover the whole field when your protecting your playmakers in this fashion.
Albo
Roar Rookie
I don't mind Croft as a player, but I just don't think he is the type of half back the Broncos need. He is not a ball playing half. He is running half similar to Milford. Whilst he is game, he is only small and will always be targeted in the defensive line. That's the main reason, I think the Storm swapped him out for Jerome Hughes late last season. With Smith running the show then, Croft offered no benefit to them. Hughes is a good running fullback or half and a stronger defender than Croft, and with Papenhuyzen having to start, Hughes was adaptable enough to play 7 and improve their right side defence. I think Sean O'Sullivan or Tom Dearden are offer better options as organising halves than Croft . But I guess we will soon see.
Daz
Guest
Sorry, hes much better than hunt, a very overrated player prone to losimg big matches for his teams!
jamesb
Roar Guru
A steady half can win a comp from time to time. Chad Townsend was successful in '16, but he had pretty good help in the rest of the spine with Barba, Maloney and Ennis. Croft will do a job for the side. As for the rest of the Broncos spine, there are question marks. Is Turpin the long term hooker? Who is going to be the fullback? Will Milford ever realise his potential? How long will it take for Dearden to be ready? I hope for Croft's sake, the Broncos don't cop injuries to their key forwards. But at the same time, this is a great opportunity for Croft. He has to make the most of it. If he doesn't, then he could be heading to England.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
I think there will be enormous pressure on Croft, it just comes with the number 7 jersey at the Broncos. To me, he plays like Ben Hunt - hot, cold and gets frustrated easy. Could win you a game or lose you one. If the Broncos aren’t winning, the media and fans with be ruthless.
John Price
Roar Rookie
There is also the possible interference or imbalance of having Allan Langer there in the background all the time every game barking orders. His time as a player came and went and I think the half backs have to play with their voices in the back of their head not a trainer and not someone like Allan Langer who probably doesn't stop talking all game. Half backs up paid to play the game read the game lead the team and also having a second opinion all the time someone is great as Alfie Langer would just be too much to bear I think.
R N
Roar Rookie
If Smith retired I don't think Croft goes. Smith was certainly the issue here, not whether the kid could could play! He has great potential... I think he will have a really good season!
Big Daddy
Guest
Bit early to judge when he hasn't played a game for Broncos. He may be just the person that fires them up. Big plus is he has played in a top flight team and should improve on that.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Steady halves can win comps but it's once a decade at most and it puts a lot of pressure on the players around him to get the job done. The Storm didn't think Brodie could be Sezar anyway and that's the question. I don't know how much Brodie likes the tough stuff but opposition teams are well aware that Milf doesn't enjoy it and try to get to him as much as they can. Nobody is trying to get to Wighton and that is a massive difference.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
To have been a premiership force over the last few years it would have taken a lot more than someone who can just steer the ship given the rest of the spine. it would have needed a Cronk or Thurston or even Smith at hooker I believe. Milford was clearly the best player on the field in the 15 GF I believe but that looked to be his peak. Milford / Croft looks a bit flaky to me but will stand corrected if I'm wrong. Greens name was tossed up as the answer to NSW's SOO issues and was mentioned by many as the Broncos best shot but that's putting way too much on the shoulders of an aged journeyman without a running game.