Yahoo Finance 'Damning indictment': Brodie Croft 'epic fail' sums up Broncos' woes
Brodie Croft was once regarded as the heir apparent to Cooper Cronk but now appears set for the scrapheap at the struggling Broncos.
The Brisbane playmaker was a back-up half to Cronk at the Storm but failed to cement his spot when the champion halfback moved to the Roosters.
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The Storm were happy to let the halfback go to the Broncos after showing faith in young playmakers such as Jahrome Hughes and Ryley Jack.
Brisbane obviously banked on Croft as being the man to steer the ship for the side in the halves but the gamble appears to have backfired badly.
The 23-year-old has been one of a number of underperforming Broncos in a side that sits third-last on the NRL ladder.
Pressure has been mounting on not only the players but Anthony Seibold too, with the coach reportedly told he needs to win five out of Brisbane's remaining 10 games of the regular season to save his job.
With commentators, former players and fans calling for drastic changes at the Broncos, Seibold looks set to drastically alter the team for Friday night's clash with Melbourne Storm.
A new-look backline trained on Monday with five-eighth Anthony Milford shifted to fullback, Croft at pivot and youngster Tom Dearden at No.7.
The move could be seen as an admission that Seibold got it wrong by recruiting Croft, with league reporter James Hooper particularly critical with Brisbane's business.
“Anthony Seibold is an intelligent bloke. I do feel for him for the amount of blowtorch he’s copping at the moment, but the damning indictment is Brodie Croft,” Hooper said on Sunday night’s Big League Wrap.
“He went out and signed Brodie Croft, superstar signing from a club that no longer wanted him, backed his own coaching ability to be able to turn Brodie around. It’s an epic fail on every level.
“End it. The experiment is done, I’m not sure (Croft) is going to make it as an NRL player. If he didn’t make it at the Melbourne Storm he’s not going make it in the team he’s in at the moment.”
Brisbane are third last on the NRL ladder after being thumped 48-0 by Wests Tigers - their seventh loss in their past eight games.
NRL great Laurie Daley said on Monday that Dearden's move to halfback against Melbourne was essential if they are any chance of reversing their fortunes.
Daley preferred Dearden - who has been used as a back-up hooker this season - over Croft, saying the under-fire halfback was released by Melbourne last year for a reason.
"I think they have it in Tom Dearden who can give them much needed direction," Daley told Sky Sports Radio.
"Croft is not that type of player.
"(Melbourne coach) Craig Bellamy released him because he realised under pressure he couldn't come up with the right plays at that moment.
"Obviously he (Croft) is shot with his confidence and it's not working between him and Anthony Milford (in the halves).
"(But) there are other players in that Broncos side that need to have a good hard look at themselves."
Critics take aim at Milford’s form
Former NSW hooker Michael Ennis singled out misfiring playmaker Milford as a big-money player who is simply not living up to expectations - or his price tag - at the Broncos.
“Anthony Milford, given his performance, I know he’s been under the blowtorch but he simply cannot be picked this weekend. His form is just not up to it,” Ennis said.
“At what point do we start asking more of the players?”
Kotoni Staggs (hamstring) and Herbie Farnworth (cork) are expected to return from injury after training at centre and on the wing respectively.
Tesi Niu and Jamayne Isaako appear to be on the outer but the round 11 team won't be confirmed until Tuesday.
Seibold is poised to roll the dice at the selection table after reportedly being given his ultimatum by the club's board.
The Brisbane coach is in the second year of a five-season deal and would hence be entitled to a significant severance package if his contract was cut short.
with AAP
