NRL 2020: Broncos’ Brodie Croft to face intense scrutiny from his former Storm teammates
Anthony Seibold will reshuffle the backline deckchairs before the Brisbane Broncos face a menacing Melbourne Storm, but it appears Brodie Croft will still have nowhere to hide from his former teammates.
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Anthony Seibold has blown up his backline for Friday night’s crucial clash against the powerhouse Melbourne Storm.
Teenage sensation Tom Dearden is expected to be handed the playmaking reins after he trained in the coveted No. 7 jersey at Red Hill on Monday forcing a reshuffle of Brisbane’s halves pairing.
Million dollar man Anthony Milford was at fullback on Monday morning while under-pressure Brodie Croft trained at five-eighth.
With winger Corey Oates out with a leg injury, young gun Herbie Farnworth will likely play on the wing with Kotoni Staggs set to make his return from injury at right centre.
Darius Boyd will retain his spot at left centre alongside high-flyer Xavier Coates.
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The Broncos are also preparing to debut Redcliffe Dolphins star Tyson Gamble who was spotted wearing the No. 14 jersey at Red Hill on Monday.
It means Issac Luke (suspension), Oates (injury), Tesi Niu (dropped) and Richard Kennar (dropped) are among the players to lose their starting spots following last week’s 48-0 loss to the Tigers.
The wholesale changes follow the club’s seventh loss of the season with a daunting task ahead, facing the Storm at Suncorp Stadium.
The pressure is continuing to build at Red Hill and Seibold is expected to name the revamped squad on Tuesday in a bid to halt their woeful form.
The Friday night chapter of the Brisbane-Melbourne rivalry will focus heavily on the former Storm playmaker Croft, now part of the struggling Broncos club.
Former Melbourne and Queensland legend Cooper Cronk said he expected Croft to be brutally targeted by his former teammates on Friday night.
“It’s an over-reaction to say he’s not at NRL form,” he said.
“To say that he’s not an NRL player is (disrespectful).
“I feel for him because he’s come from a system that cared for him … to the snakepit of Brisbane.
“It’s a tough ask this week.
“The Storm know his strengths and weaknesses and they will target them.”
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Broncos captain Patrick Carrigan admitted that the pressure the club was facing had affected the talented playmaker but backed him to return to his scintillating best.
“Crofty is someone who wears his heart on his sleeve and he competes for every inch,” Carrigan said.
“He’s from the Melbourne system, he’s well-disciplined. He’s got to where he is today on the back of hard work.
“The pressure of things of how we’ve been going probably got the better of him because he’s copping the brunt of it.
“As a group, there’s 17 of us who have got to do a job and we’re letting each other down first and foremost before we can put any of the blame on a single player.
“One thing I know about Crofty, no matter the situation he’s going to keep improving as a player and not stop until he gets to where he wants to be.
“I have every faith in Crofty.”
Originally published as NRL 2020: Broncos’ Brodie Croft to face intense scrutiny from his former Storm teammates