NEWS Darren Lockyer confirms Brisbane Broncos' Brodie Croft signing

[McHunt]

Darren Lockyer confirms Brisbane Broncos' Brodie Croft signing​

By WWOS staff
2 hours ago

Brisbane Broncos board member Darren Lockyer has confirmed that Brodie Croft will be joining the Queensland club on a three-year deal. Speaking to Nine News Queensland's Ben Dobbin, Lockyer announced that Croft would be at Red Hill from 2020.

"It's been talked about for a little while now. It's signed, sealed and delivered - Brodie is coming for three years and I think he's going to be a great addition to the squad," the Queensland rugby league legend said.

Brodie Croft (Getty)

It means that Anthony Milford may be in for a shift back to five-eighth after spending part of last season playing fullback.

"I think whether five-eight or fullback with Milf, having someone like Brodie who can organise, which just comes natural to him, it allows someone like Milf to free him up and just go and play footy, which is what he does best," Lockyer said. "Again, I think he's a great addition to the squad because he's the sort of player we need. "

Lockyer was coy on how the Broncos' new signing might affect young up-and-comer Tom Dearden though.

"We've got big things for Tom Dearden," he said. "He's 18, he's still learning. He'll be part of the mix there as well and he's another option. "But he's a good kid with a great attitude, so he'll be around the place."

Lockyer confirms Broncos' Croft signing

'He's the sort of player we need'

wwos.nine.com.au

 

[theshed]

What’s our best spine for next year?

1. ???
6. Milford
7. Croft
9. Turpin

Or

1. Milford
6. Dearden
7. Croft
9. Turpin

Is option b too much inexperienced rbe halves?

 

[Kooly87]

Personally, I think Locky handled that well. It's a good endorsement of Dearden long term whilst also acknowledging that Croft will be a huge boost to our chances in 2020.

I hope Dearden kills it in Queensland Cup and is putting a heap of pressure of Croft and Milford. It would have been suicidal though to walk into this campaign with an 18 year old rookie as our only legitimate Halfback option and it's great to see the Broncos do the right thing by themselves and Dearden by giving him time to hone his craft.

If he's good enough, then he'll bust the door down, but this way there is far less pressure on both him and the squad overall and I think it was definitely the right call.

 

[Huge]

I believe Dearden will likely play Qcup all next season but it will be made clear to him that he will be a part of the first grade side in 2021. However, what happens if Croft delivers? If Millionford feels the pressure and responds with a huge season alongside a firing Croft it may well be that Dearden has played his last game for the Broncos.

Dearden is in a good environment but it just may be the case that his future has become a lot less secure. Should I stay or should I go will playing on loop over Christmas.

 

[BrentTatesChin]

I believe Dearden will likely play Qcup all next season but it will be made clear to him that he will be a part of the first grade side in 2021. However, what happens if Croft delivers? If Millionford feels the pressure and responds with a huge season alongside a firing Croft it may well be that Dearden has played his last game for the Broncos.

Dearden is in a good environment but it just may be the case that his future has become a lot less secure. Should I stay or should I go will playing on loop over Christmas.

Kids 18. Hes got alot of learning and growing up to do (and physically, still a very skinny lad). I doubt we'll let him go

 

[Kooly87]

Kids 18. Hes got alot of learning and growing up to do (and physically, still a very skinny lad). I doubt we'll let him go

He has a contract for the next two years so he can't go anywhere else.

 

[McHunt]

What’s our best spine for next year?

1. ???
6. Milford
7. Croft
9. Turpin

Or

1. Milford
6. Dearden
7. Croft
9. Turpin

Is option b too much inexperienced rbe halves?

Any one that doesn't include Macca at 9, Boyd at 6 and Turpin at 7 will be infinitely better than the one that got flogged in our last game.

 

[Accept]

Whilst I like some of the things he does, Croft isn't the answer to Bronco's HB woes. 22 GP 5 TA and 2 LBA on the highest scoring team in the league is really bad. He is a bit of a Kodi clone, has some great speed, marginal kicking game and very poor defensively. Nothing about him even resembles an organizer. Dearden will start in front of him if he has a good training camp.

 

[Financeguy]

Dearden will start in front of him if he has a good training camp.

I doubt the Broncos intentions of signing Croft for 3 years was to play 2nd fiddle behind Dearden, regardless of how hard Dearden trains.

Dearden's time may well come, but not round 1 2020 if Croft is fit.

 

[teampjta]

Whilst I like some of the things he does, Croft isn't the answer to Bronco's HB woes. 22 GP 5 TA and 2 LBA on the highest scoring team in the league is really bad. He is a bit of a Kodi clone, has some great speed, marginal kicking game and very poor defensively. Nothing about him even resembles an organizer. Dearden will start in front of him if he has a good training camp.

I think you’ll find that there is zero chance Dearden starts ahead of him, a coach doesn’t publicly go out of his way to sign a 7 and then relegated him to qcup

 

[mitch222]

What’s our best spine for next year?

1. ???
6. Milford
7. Croft
9. Turpin

Or

1. Milford
6. Dearden
7. Croft
9. Turpin

Is option b too much inexperienced rbe halves?

1. Boyd
6. Bird
7. Turpin
9. McCullough
Take me to the premiership now

 

[teampjta]

I think you’ll find that there is zero chance Dearden starts ahead of him, a coach doesn’t publicly go out of his way to sign a 7 and then relegathim to qcup

I doubt the Broncos intentions of signing Croft for 3 years was to play 2nd fiddle behind Dearden, regardless of how hard Dearden trains.

Dearden's time may well come, but not round 1 2020 if Croft is fit.

you beat me to it

 

[BroncsFan]

Is there also the potential that Dearden could become a hooker?

In his games last year he reminded me of a 2014/15 Ben Hunt lite... he liked to take the line on and had the strength to shrug off defenders. He was also strong in defence. He doesnt look as fast as Bhunt though.

Also pending what happens with Milf is there a potential Croft becomes a 6... he looks to have a bit of speed and likes to take the line on. He reminds me of Maloney with his competitiveness, support play and willingness to try options. Time will tell if he has the skills to execute on the back of that attitude though.

 

[Viti]

What’s our best spine for next year?

1. ???
6. Milford
7. Croft
9. Turpin

Or

1. Milford
6. Dearden
7. Croft
9. Turpin

Is option b too much inexperienced rbe halves?

I’m just spitballing here but what about:

1. Croft
6. Milf
7. Dearden
9. Turpin

 

[pagey]

Is there also the potential that Dearden could become a hooker?

In his games last year he reminded me of a 2014/15 Ben Hunt lite... he liked to take the line on and had the strength to shrug off defenders. He was also strong in defence. He doesnt look as fast as Bhunt though.

Also pending what happens with Milf is there a potential Croft becomes a 6... he looks to have a bit of speed and likes to take the line on. He reminds me of Maloney with his competitiveness, support play and willingness to try options. Time will tell if he has the skills to execute on the back of that attitude though.

Croft seems to be a better option at hooker. Boyd had more TA and LBA and less errors, the only thing Croft had on him was support play meters and kicking meters . Which Milford had it over him and turpin was just behind him, also macca and milf had more 40/20 . And he wasn't even in the top 50 for taking on the line. ????
[automerge]1574736365[/automerge]

I’m just spitballing here but what about:

1. Croft
6. Milf
7. Dearden
9. Turpin

Maybe that's where it could end up

 

[Bongo]

I think Croft will be an elite halfback who can organise but he is still developing. A very good signing in my view but it might not all come together in 2020. He can defend but did not do well this year and I think his shoulder issues contributed to that. I watch a lot of Melbourne and I think he will do well having to take on more at Brisbane.

 

[McHunt]

I’m just spitballing here but what about:

1. Croft
6. Milf
7. Dearden
9. Turpin

Croft seems to be a better option at hooker. Boyd had more TA and LBA and less errors, the only thing Croft had on him was support play meters and kicking meters . Which Milford had it over him and turpin was just behind him, also macca and milf had more 40/20 . And he wasn't even in the top 50 for taking on the line. ????
[automerge]1574736365[/automerge]
Maybe that's where it could end up

Croft will be 7. Turpin will be 9. You can lock those two in.

Their remit will be to feed the ball to TPJ, shadow him to the line on either side, take the offload and immediately spin it to Fifita or Haas who will crash through and score. They'll be required to do that 16 times every game right up until the grand final, which we'll win by 60-0.

 

[pagey]

Croft will be 7. Turpin will be 9. You can lock those two in.

Their remit will be to feed the ball to TPJ, shadow him to the line on either side, take the offload and immediately spin it to Fifita or Haas who will crash through and score. They'll be required to do that 16 times every game right up until the grand final, which we'll win by 60-0.

Can i get a pound of whatever your taking , it's that time of the year. Cheers