Rugby league legend Cooper Cronk has taken over the defense of the contested Broncos center-back Brodie Croft after suspecting it doesn’t meet the NRL standard.
23-year-old Croft is on the chopping block when Brisbane desperately tries to reverse a sad shape that also endangers coach Anthony Seibold’s job.
Croft was Seibold’s big market entry last year when he pulled the young playmaker out of almighty Melbourne.
He played 39 games for the storm and was encouraged as a player to fill the shoes of Cronk himself – the origin and international champion.
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But Croft was largely unable to shoot in the southern capital and was knocked out of the team on the eve of the 2019 final series when Melbourne made it to the big dance only to lose against Cronk’s Roosters.
On Sunday evening, James Hooper, Fox League senior NRL reporter, asked if Croft was even able to make it to the top league.
“End it. The experiment is over, I’m not sure (Croft) will make it as an NRL player,” Hooper told Big League Wrap.
“If he doesn’t make it through the Melbourne Storm, he won’t make it into the team he is on.”
Hooper’s comments came after a 48-0 Broncos drubbing by West Tigers on round 10.
But Cronk says Hooper’s comments are too harsh and have supported the young playmaker to return to his best form in Brisbane.
“I think that’s an overreaction and an inflammatory comment to say that it’s not an NRL standard,” he said Cooper’s view with Hannah Hollis.
“No matter if you are young and a beginner or if you are an old man, you go through different phases in which you play really well and when you play badly.
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“At the moment Brodie is facing a number of challenges where he is not playing at the level he can.
“Saying he’s not an NRL player is disrespectful because Brodie played in a big final. You are not playing in a grand finale unless you can play the game.
“He is going through a difficult phase, he is not playing according to the standard he wants.
“I feel for him because he started out with a Melbourne Storm system that really cared for, cared for and protected his players, and now he’s gone to Brisbane, where many people said he was buying the year after two rounds . Now the snake pit of Broncos exposure and media attention has suddenly come for him.
“I feel for him. No matter what stage of your career you are in, if you are in bad shape, it takes a lot of mental toughness, tenacity and resilience to get through the other side. “
Croft’s life isn’t going to be much easier this week as he prepares to face his former club on Friday night in round 11.
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Many advise the storm to roll through the Broncos with ease, and Cronk says the Broncos halfback must be ready for the challenge.
“If he hasn’t rolled up his sleeves in the past six or seven weeks, he really has to do it against the storm.
“What goes against him is that the storm knows its strengths and weaknesses, so they will target it.
“He has to come out really hot, fight fire and fire for it to bounce back, but also the Broncos.”
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