Brodie Croft : « It’s an honor to wear the Leeds jersey every week »
Brodie Croft, the 2022 Man of Steel and halfback for Leeds, discusses the beginning of the Rhinos’ season, the NRL, and reflects on his arrival in the Super League.
Hi Brodie, firstly, what assessment do you make of Leeds at the beginning of the season? With a team that seems to be operating at two different speeds.
I think we are building nicely. We have set a platform that we now must build off. We’ve shown in patches what this team is about and how we want to play. It’s about turning those ‘patches’ into all round, consistent, 80 minutes performances, which I know we are close to doing.
Being French, we would like to know what you think about your French teammates.
‘Sanga’ and Mickaël are class! They bring great value to the team! Firstly, they are great people who are much respected amongst the squad. They are both extremely hard workers which is infectious. And they both have really good English skills, which is impressive.
You spent several seasons in the NRL, playing for the Melbourne Storm and the Brisbane Broncos. You were seen as the future Cooper Cronk. Was your move to the Super League not mentally challenging?
I tend not to think along those lines. I’m not naive to dismiss the narrative there, but I’ve never seen myself as ‘the future Cooper Cronk’, I’ve only ever seen myself as ‘Brodie Croft’, creating and living my own journey.
Is a return to the NRL in your plans?
One thing about professional sport is there is no point ‘planning’ too much as circumstances are constantly changing; teams, form, family dynamics etc. All I am currently focused on, and loving, is playing my best footy with Leeds, with a great group of boys and coaching staff.
Jake Clifford, former Hull FC player, currently with the North Queensland Cowboys, criticized the difference in the offseason between the Super League and the NRL, with quite strong words: « Pre-season in England was a piece of piss really compared to what we go through here. » What do you think about this statement?
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. And if that’s how Jake felt, well that’s how he felt. Personally, I don’t think there is too much between them. NRL pre-seasons are run directly in the middle of summer, so the weather being hotter certainly adds another physically demanding element. However, with the pre-seasons in the super league being in winter, freezing cold conditions with not much sunshine, that adds a mentally demanding element, different to NRL.
You’ve been in England since 2022, signing with Salford, and in the first season, you won the Man Of Steel. You seemed liberated in this new league; is there a reason who could explain this rebirth with the Red Devils?
Definitely the players, coaches and the environment created at Salford. It helped me find my love for the game of rugby league again. Paul Rowley and Kurt Haggerty in particular worked a lot with me in expanding my view of the game and how to break it down as a halfback. And the playing group was small in numbers, but big in heart. All who, including coaches, I still have good relationships with.
This year, you signed with the Leeds Rhinos, why this choice?
We would be here all day if I went through every single reason, idea, thought process I had in making this decision. But ultimately, it came down to what was right for my family. I’m grateful that a club like Leeds, with such a rich history, come knocking on my door and it’s an honor to wear the jersey every week.
Well, thank you. What can we wish you for this season?
Hopefully lots of success, particularly in October! And for Catalans to not tackle too hard when we come to Perpignan in May!
Thank you very much for taking the time to answer our questions.
Treize Mondial
