Brodie Croft Discussion

[McHunt]

Can't see Croft ever returning to the 7. That is Dearden's now. He owns it. Not even Seibold is that dumb.

If you want a gauge of how bad this team is, consider that Dearden is probably the worst halfback in the competition. And when I say "worst" I don't mean that as an insult only that all the other halfbacks are probably somewhat better. Yet, he's far and away our best player, good enough to build our future around. Considerably better than Milford and Croft.

 

[Twbapony]

I think if you take Milford out of the equation, and give Croft and Dearden a preseason together they might do some good things. Attitude is going to be his Achilles heel as in Melbourne everyone pushed and he could be carried by the group, here he has to lead and provide that point of enthusiasm that other top halves do. Cleary at the Panthers has been defending out his skin, and looking to cut someone in half, to inspire the team to step up around him.

 

[holdzy]

Milford and Dearden is the way to go at the moment, unless another quality half pops up by chance.

 

[Cult]

Milford is definitely better than Croft, but still isn’t a good option for this club going forward. If he wants to stay on something like 500k, so we can at least keep Dearden as well then fine but we should absolutely be searching for other options

 

[Footy Fanatic]

I agree Croft isn't in great form but I most definitely am not off him. I still think he's two years away from having the maturity to have a complete arsenal of weapons. I would make sure his shoulder is fully repaired/rehabbed and tell him I have total faith that he is still in an ascendant process. By the time he's 25 he will be going very well.

Not so much at the moment but he's not solely responsible for this miserable team (nor is DB)

What has Croft shown you to suggest he will be an average NRL halfback, let alone a great one?

He clearly just isn't good and we should move off him as soon as possible.

 

[Dazza 92]

regardless of whether we rate him or not, Crofts going nowhere...

we need to get used to that...

It is a real shame there is no lower level grade football currnetly; quite a few of our roster could use the time to further develop and iron out deficiencies etc...

PLus; is he actually over that shoulder injury? Has he had a major injury set back before in his career? He may not be "mentally"over it is what im suggesting...

No faith if he puts his shoulder into a tackle it will hold up, so every tackle is a grab...

I dunno, im just putting it out there....but he is staying here for the forseeable future...maybe he should spend time in the cup next year (if they have it?) to rebuild confidence in himself and his shoulder..?

 

[Huge]

What has Croft shown you to suggest he will be an average NRL halfback, let alone a great one?

He clearly just isn't good and we should move off him as soon as possible.

Oh, I don't know. Perhaps because he was considered a talented kid in his younger days or maybe it's because he played at a high level in the NRL prior to joining the Broncos.

It may even be that the games finest coach publicly backed him AFTER he left that club and stated unequivocally that he still thinks he's a good player. It might be that Croft continues to play carrying a weakened shoulder in a team desperately out of form and that has resulted in some unhappy games.

It might also be because he's only 22 ffs. I don't write kids off. I've also seen very young men take time to grow up and become the final product by 28-35. NO, I didn't just say we should wait 6 to 13 years and if anyone suggests that, they're a fucking idiot. Maturity happens at different stages.

What I'm saying is 'it's too fucking soon, years too soon to write off a 22 year old kid'. Clear enough?

 

[007]

Lets start with the right coaching in the team first

 

[lynx000]

Oh, I don't know. Perhaps because he was considered a talented kid in his younger days or maybe it's because he played at a high level in the NRL prior to joining the Broncos.

It may even be that the games finest coach publicly backed him AFTER he left that club and stated unequivocally that he still thinks he's a good player. It might be that Croft continues to play carrying a weakened shoulder in a team desperately out of form and that has resulted in some unhappy games.

It might also be because he's only 22 ffs. I don't write kids off. I've also seen very young men take time to grow up and become the final product by 28-35. NO, I didn't just say we should wait 6 to 13 years and if anyone suggests that, they're a fucking idiot. Maturity happens at different stages.

What I'm saying is 'it's too fucking soon, years too soon to write off a 22 year old kid'. Clear enough?

And particularly too soon to write anyone off in circumstances where they have shifted clubs from a club with highly structured systems to our shit show and where the forwards have been regularly surrendering the ruck and as you rightly point out, just about everyone is out of form.

 

[JungleBoogie]

Croft looks like a champion park footballer - something I find myself playing about current broncos far too often.

 

[Huge]

Croft looks like a champion park footballer - something I find myself playing about current broncos far too often.

Alfie was a champion backyard player. So was Marshall. It takes TIME and pressure to create a diamond. People develop at differing rates. I'm glad we have him locked up at a fair price and I want him to have a strong and nurturing coach.

 

[Footy Fanatic]

Alfie was a champion backyard player. So was Marshall. It takes TIME and pressure to create a diamond. People develop at differing rates. I'm glad we have him locked up at a fair price and I want him to have a strong and nurturing coach.

While I wish I had your optimism, I haven't seen anything to suggest he is or will become an NRL level half.

For me it is glaringly obvious that he is just one of those guys who isn't NRL quality.

 

[Huge]

While I wish I had your optimism, I haven't seen anything to suggest he is or will become an NRL level half.

For me it is glaringly obvious that he is just one of those guys who isn't NRL quality.

Err, he is ALREADY NRL standard. The games finest coach considered him NRL standard 39 times and knows him personally. He's also seen him up close in training and in general. I suppose you might be in a better position to judge and I guess you might be a better judge than Craig Bellamy but you'll understand I'm sure that I doubt your credentials.

 

[Footy Fanatic]

Err, he is ALREADY NRL standard. The games finest coach considered him NRL standard 39 times and knows him personally. He's also seen him up close in training and in general. I suppose you might be in a better position to judge and I guess you might be a better judge than Craig Bellamy but you'll understand I'm sure that I doubt your credentials.

Can I ask, if Bellamy truely believed that, why did he let him go then and preferred a fullback playing halfback ahead of him?

 

[RedHillGuy]

Err, he is ALREADY NRL standard. The games finest coach considered him NRL standard 39 times and knows him personally. He's also seen him up close in training and in general. I suppose you might be in a better position to judge and I guess you might be a better judge than Craig Bellamy but you'll understand I'm sure that I doubt your credentials.

Same coach that dropped him at critical periods of their campaigns and opted for others. I’d say Bellamy viewed him as capable of doing a small job (not typical halfback role) in a structure with Smith & Munster the main guys. Croft’s defence was a liability for Melbourne and his attack stagnated. He has a bit of a running game but always looks more dangerous than he really is when running the ball, as he seems to find defenders rather than beat them more often than not.

 

[Mustafur]

For a supposed natural 7, Croft has a weak boot.

He always seems to make his mind on a play before he does it and has no ad lib to his game.

 

[rnabokov]

Alfie was a champion backyard player. So was Marshall. It takes TIME and pressure to create a diamond. People develop at differing rates. I'm glad we have him locked up at a fair price and I want him to have a strong and nurturing coach.

We didn't need him and we shouldn't have signed him.

As I see it, the issue is not whether or not Croft is good or bad, nor is it that he will (or won't) develop into a top half in time. The issue is that he was the wrong choice for us. It was wrong because we already had "developing" halves in Dearden, Paix, Gamble, and SOS. We didn't need another one. The issue also is that he is, again as I see it, similar in style to Dearden (although I reckon Dearden has more potential). We didn't need another Dearden, let alone what Croft's signing might do to Dearden's growth and maturity by being replaced by Croft.

With Milford injured, we now have 2 seriously inexperienced halves trying to organise a rabble, of which they are part. Little chance of that. What kind of strategic thinking is this Seibold???

Finally, as I posted elsewhere, Croft is too immature to handle any sort of real pressure. He is a long way from being a game manager. He played most of his best football in the Storm system, the Storm game plan, with players like Smith and Munster and Slater. He didn't have to manage the Storm's game, which in many respects is self-managing because of quality coaching.

Waste of money for mine, and not good for Croft's development.

 

[Huge]

Can I ask, if Bellamy truely believed that, why did he let him go then and preferred a fullback playing halfback ahead of him?

Ok, are you now disputing the facts? Bellamy selected him 39 times. Are you saying 39 times he didn't believe he was nrl standard? Yet he selected him anyway? Or are you saying/calling him a liar after Bellamy stated he still rates him?
Are you asking me to explain what ANOTHER human being was thinking or what his reasoning is/was??

Perhaps Bellamy had to choose one or the other and his experience told him the other choice was correct for the 'now'. There was also cap pressure at the time and that was an area Melbourne are understandably highly sensitive about.

No matter why he left Melbourne your claim he is not NRL standard does not withstand scrutiny.