Croft determined to turn Broncos around
Shadow of Langer an inspiration not a burden, says struggling No.7
BESIEGED halfback Brodie Croft has opened up on the pressures of wearing the Broncos’ No.7 jumper made famous by Allan Langer and admits the buck stops with him to haul Brisbane out of its form crisis.
If anyone can empathise with Croft‘s current plight, it is rival Warriors playmaker Kodi Nikorima, who squares off against his former Broncos club in Saturday night’s bottom-four battle at Central Coast Stadium.
Just 14 months ago, Nikorima was in possession of the iconic Brisbane No.7 jumper before he was released by coach Anthony Seibold, who went in search of a halfback that could break the Broncos‘ 14-year title drought.
Seibold identified Storm recruit Croft as the man to deliver the club‘s seventh premiership, but after steering Brisbane to back-to-back wins in March, the wheels have fallen off at the Broncos scrumbase.
It‘s been 103 days since Croft tasted victory at Red Hill and after five consecutive losses — the latest a 30-12 debacle against the Titans — there are doubts as to whether he is the halfback to stamp his mark on the Broncos.
But as he prepares for a showdown with Warriors pivot Nikorima, Croft refuses to blame others for Brisbane’s free fall to 15th spot and says he must spearhead the Broncos’ fightback.
“The coaching staff entrusted me with the job and I need to step up and lead, it‘s as simple as that,” he said. “I have been frustrated with the results and myself, personally, I need to take control of this group and lead them around.
“I did well in the first two rounds but since coming back (from the COVID break) we have lost our way and I have to take ownership of that.
“I can‘t shy away from what’s going on. It’s not in my blood to give up in times of adversity. I want to help get the Broncos through this period and I will do whatever I can do to turn this team around.”
Reports out of Melbourne suggested Croft wasn’t the chosen one to lead the team consistently. While he played halfback in 19 games last year, winning 18, and was part of the Storm‘s grand final loss to the Roosters in 2018, Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy axed Croft on the eve of the finals. It was a crushing call but Croft accepted it and moved to the Broncos.
He may yet prove the Storm wrong. Croft is still two weeks away from his 23rd birthday, an age when many playmakers, including the man he was groomed to succeed in Melbourne, Cooper Cronk, are still developing as game managers.
But Croft accepts the Broncos don‘t have time for excuses. The Langer shadow looms large over any Broncos No.7 and Croft stares at “Alfie” every day, with Brisbane’s greatest halfback now working with him as a member of Seibold’s coaching team. Rather than be daunted by the Langer legacy, Croft is fuelled by it.
“It’s a privilege to be at the Brisbane Broncos wearing the famous No.7 jumper,” he said. “I don‘t see it as a burden at all.
“I am grateful for the opportunity and it’s up to me to take it with both hands and keep leading these boys around. It’s my job and I want the challenge. I want to lead us through these dark times and get us to the other end.”
Seibold has come under pressure to axe Croft in favour of 19-year-old halfback understudy Tom Dearden but the Dalby product Croft welcomed the challenge. “I like the competition,” he said