Jarrod Croker

[Ibleedblue]

Great points scorer but an average player elsewhere though. Not bad at club level but is unable to make the next step.

I was having a chat with a bloke at the Broncos leagues club and he said he couldn't believe that NSW haven't picked him. Would you honestly pick him ahead of Jennings, J-Morris, Wighton or Roberts dude?

 

[Keffola]

Great points scorer but an average player elsewhere though. Not bad at club level but is unable to make the next step.

I was having a chat with a bloke at the Broncos leagues club and he said he couldn't believe that NSW haven't picked him. Would you honestly pick him ahead of Jennings, J-Morris, Wighton or Roberts dude?

Maybe the bloke was speaking in the context that if we still manage to pick pearce for so long.

 

[mozza91]

I have fond memories of a 36 year old Adam MacDougall giving him a absolute bath in 2011. I can recall Doogs breaking through Croker's initial attempt, falling over, having enough time to get back up and break another feeble Croker attempt on his way to setting up a try. Fun times.

 

[Jason Maher]

LU at its best. He shut down Lyon several times yesterday, but no-one notices. Lyon beat him a couple of other times, once for a try, and everyone bags the shit out of him. Because Jamie Lyon has never stood up an opposing centre before...

 

[Danish]

He's not as bad as people make out. Good attacking centre, was 3rd leading try scorer last season (18) which was a fair effort considering how terrible we were.

So he is the white Nathan Merritt then.

I look forward to his single origin game in about 6 years

 

[nick87]

I think most centres would be coming off second best against Lyon though given the form he is currently in.

Spot on. Lyon has made many centres look like f**king idiots in his time and he'll make many more look stupid before he's done.

He missed one tackle on Lyon and other wise basically shut him down all game. Which given how f**king great Jamie Lyon is, that's a fairly good effort.

 

[Walt Flanigan]

So he is the white Nathan Merritt then.

I look forward to his single origin game in about 6 years

Except he was creating opportunities for himself (you kind of have to when you play outside McCrone) rather than just catching the ball and falling over the line.

 

[Radical Rat]

Spot on. Lyon has made many centres look like f**king idiots in his time and he'll make many more look stupid before he's done.

He missed one tackle on Lyon and other wise basically shut him down all game. Which given how f**king great Jamie Lyon is, that's a fairly good effort.

I guess it was just the way in which he was beaten. There was absolutely nothing on and Lyon had no room whatsoever and Croker barely laid a hand on him. It's not like Lyon has blistering speed. Really poor read.

And the one where he knocked the ball out was the same. Lyon had no room and burnt him again. Although I thought on the replay he was defending one man further in with Hodgson outside him, not sure why.

 

[Radical Rat]

Except he was creating opportunities for himself (you kind of have to when you play outside McCrone) rather than just catching the ball and falling over the line.

Very true. Funny that Souths dropped Merritt for Alex Johnson and it turns out they are the exact same person.

 

[gorilla with a shotgun]

Please

Of the centres named this week Croker is currently better than O'Neill, Goodwin, Reed, Naiquama, Yeo, Peyroux, Morgan, Takairangi, McDonald and would debate a few more as well

 

[nick87]

I guess it was just the way in which he was beaten. There was absolutely nothing on and Lyon had no room whatsoever and Croker barely laid a hand on him. It's not like Lyon has blistering speed. Really poor read.

And the one where he knocked the ball out was the same. Lyon had no room and burnt him again. Although I thought on the replay he was defending one man further in with Hodgson outside him, not sure why.

The second one Croker didnt get burnt at all, he was defending 2 gaps in, because Hodgson has picked up a knock in a tackle earlier and was trying to catch a breather... Our defensive line at the time was Croker - Williams - Hodgson - Lee

Lyon burnt Hodgson one on one and Croker came from 2 gaps over to make a try saver. So yeah, he gave one up and he saved one.

 

[RWB]

LU at its best. He shut down Lyon several times yesterday, but no-one notices. Lyon beat him a couple of other times, once for a try, and everyone bags the shit out of him. Because Jamie Lyon has never stood up an opposing centre before...

I didn't get to catch the game but Croker has been woeful all year.

I'd forgive any centre or winger in the game for getting out-witted by Jamie Lyon. Quite simply he is the best club centre of the past decade, Greg Inglis included afaic.

But he and Lee have been getting torn to shreds all season, both make very poor decision in defence. I haven't seen that stats for over a month but they were the 2nd worst defensive edge only behind the Tigers right edge. Which isn't surprising.

 

[Timbo]

I think he's a very good first grade player, and especially good in attack.

But I think he should be on the wing and we should be trying to recruit a top tier centre (or fullback, and move Wighton back to centre).

Also, I initially supported the decision to make him skipper. But he has zero presence on the field, can't seem to motivate the troops on the field and can't work the referees.

I'd be looking to replace him as captain so he can focus on football and move him to the wing.

 

[nick87]

Both of our defensive edges are hopeless. Part of that is our defenders are very good, but the bigger issue is that Stuart continues to play this ridiculous up and in aggressive style

We'd lead the league in having an unmarked winger/centre score a try without a hand laid on them, because our backs are taught to jam in every time teams go wide. Staurt's biggest coaching issue right now is he's coaching the team to play an outdated defensive style

now that's not to excuse Croker's miss on Lyon, because that wasnt a by product of structure, that was just a horrible miss. But again, that Jamie Lyon guy isnt a bad footy player, he's done that his entire career, even defensive guru's like Matt Cooper have been made to look dumb by Lyon.
That's what elite players do, they make decent FG players look like absolute f**king mugs

 

[betcats]

Croker is a fine attacking centre, he just isn't a good defender.

Also I agree re Wighton, I am not sure if FB is his spot.

 

[nick87]

Also I agree re Wighton, I am not sure if FB is his spot.

I dunno, he seems to get better and better every week in that spot. His last 3 weeks, albeit in losses, have been superb.

 

[Bobby DIGital]

LU at its best. He shut down Lyon several times yesterday, but no-one notices. Lyon beat him a couple of other times, once for a try, and everyone bags the shit out of him. Because Jamie Lyon has never stood up an opposing centre before...

This.

He has improved his defence. He still has a few WTF moments like Vs Hurrell, but other than that he's shown a lot of improvement since the 2012 days when he and S. Williams with their matching headgear were just a great big target.

He will go down in history as a better centre than that never-was Chris Lawrence.

 

[roostersrule2]

Lawrence pre-injuries was a better centre then Croker could ever hope to be.

 

[BunniesMan]

There is no way he will play deep into his 30s.

Adam Reynolds is a halfback, he doesn't rely on his speed. His game is much more likely to age well. He is the one more likely to be playing at 35. If he stays fit he'll either be number 1 or 2 for all time points.

 

[no name]

This.

He has improved his defence. He still has a few WTF moments like Vs Hurrell, but other than that he's shown a lot of improvement since the 2012 days when he and S. Williams with their matching headgear were just a great big target.

He will go down in history as a better centre than that never-was Chris Lawrence.

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