Melbourne Storm halfback will rise again

Highfields junior Brodie Croft ready to fight for position at Melbourne Storm

STORM RISING: Home to visit family and friends, former Highfields junior Brodie Croft says he's not looking forward to a tough pre-season with the Melbourne Storm. Picture: DANIEL POCKETT

RUGBY LEAGUE: There are two things Brodie Croft does not want to think about right now.

One is the Melbourne Storm's 2018 grand final defeat to the Roosters - the other their next pre-season.

"It (the loss to the Sydney Roosters) was tough to be part of,” Croft said.

"It wasn't exactly the smoothest season for us, but everyone had worked really hard to get there.

"I think Craig (Bellamy) probably summed it up best after the game when he said, 'you almost wish you didn't make the final at all when you lose it'.

"We were all pretty distraught after the loss but we will use those demons to drive us next season.”

Home to visit family and friends in HIghfields, Croft said he was enjoying a brief respite before what will be another brutal pre-season with the NRL powerhouse.

"Anyone who has been through a Melbourne pre-season knows they are brutal,” Croft said.

"This will be my fourth and I'm not looking forward to it, not one bit.

"They never get any easier. We'll all be battling some personal demons but we're there together as well - fighting as a team.

"It pays off though, they really prepare you for the tough times in the season.”

A tough pre-season could also prove to be the perfect springboard for the former Highfields Eagles junior.

The 2018 NRL season was a "roller-coaster” for Croft who enjoyed the high of replacing Cooper Cronk before being dropped to the Intrust Super Cup with Easts.

"The hardest thing was I knew I wasn't playing good footy,” he said.

"It was a real low point for me and I couldn't see a path back.

"Going back to Easts was good for me though - that's where I played my footy after I left Highfields.

"Playing with good mates like Scott Drinkwater and Billy Walters I started to enjoy my footy again and I was having fun.

"At the end of the day that's why you play footy because you enjoy it. I was working hard too.

"That's one of the first thing you notice at Melbourne - Craig doesn't hand out that purple jersey to just anyone. That's why it was great to make my way back into the team.

"You have to fight for it, you have to earn it. And that's exactly what I plan to do again next season. I know I'll have to fight and work hard to make that jersey mine and I'm ready to do that.”

Originally published as Melbourne Storm halfback will rise again