CROFT HELPED BY DEMOTION
RUGBY LEAGUE: A demotion to reserve grade can break a player’s confidence beyond measure, especially so early into taking over from the club’s best ever halfback.
One of Brodie Croft’s former trainers at Highfields believes it has helped him, as the 21year-old prepares to lead the Storm into battle against Cooper Cronk and the Sydney Roosters in tomorrow’s NRL grand final.
Croft was dropped to the Easts Tigers in the Intrust Super Cup after starting at halfback in the opening five rounds, before hovering in and out of the top flight.
After being named on the reserves list for the Storm’s qualifying final against South Sydney, Croft made the most of his late inclusion and hasn’t let the job slip away.
“He accepted he made a few mistakes and got over it,” former Highfields Eagles trainer Peter Fanning said.
“He was always well driven, and he had the self-confidence to not let the demotion get to him.
“Even against the adversity he wasn’t put off by that.”
Fanning said this attitude was one that had been with Croft from a young age, having served as trainer from U14s to U16s.
“He certainly had potential. I wouldn’t say the best player but he had plenty of grit and was one of the most determined players I’ve ever seen,” he said.
“You’d drive past the oval in the afternoon and you’d see him kicking a ball.
“He knew what he wanted and went for it. When he wanted something he wanted it bad.
“He led the game well and was a very strong and vocal player. He could read the game very well and could be two or three tackles in advance, and he was pretty strong-minded.”
While performing well throughout the finals series to date, his biggest test comes tomorrow night in front of more than 80,000 people at ANZ Stadium, and Fanning said he expected the young half to rise for the challenge.
“I think he’s the sort of player who will lift to that,” he said.
“I don’t think it will faze him, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was man of the match.
“If given an opportunity he’ll take it. He can turn nothing into something.
“When went back to reserve grade I think that was the making of him. He realised he can’t do it all on his own, and he will be the game changer.
“He has an attacking flair that will get him through and I believe he will shine. He always plays well under pressure.”
Croft won’t be the only Darling Downs talent in full flight on grand final day.
South-West Mustangs’ Steph Hancock and former Scots PGC student Heather Ballinger will line up for the Broncos as they try to take down the Roosters as well.
Brisbane made it to the grand final by winning all three regular season games, including a 14-4 defeat of Sydney back in round two.
The Broncos come into the fixture as heavy favourites with Ladbrokes ($1.33).