Mat Croker discussion

Watching the Flegg highlights, young Harry Croker did one of the offloads that Matt pulled off so many times.
Kept his feet despite 3 defenders all over him and somehow got an arm free and delivered a perfect pass to Tevita Toloi who scored under the posts.
With Matt, he usually found a flying Tex Hoy with the crazy pass from under a pile of bodies.
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Yeah, pretty sure it was Billy who has been saying for years thats his best assets.

Could we finally be looking at a player and going, what's this dudes best assets, how can we bring that to the team to get the best of both.

VS, hmmmmm I have a play style I want, so you best become what I need, even if it goes against your basic instincts and physical aspects as a player.
 
This is who he was as a junior. A somewhat toiling, big minute lock with some ballplaying ability through the middle. Was obviously being miscast as a bench prop, he was never going to be the kind of player to come on and impact a game in that way.
 
It’s all part of the storey, players get used where they are needed not where they are best suited.
Croker is an example and I am sure many others exist, it’s all about lasting long enough to find the niche that suits.
Locally I think of Brodie Jones who has filled in almost anywhere in our pack but has not been given a long stance at his better position 2nd row as opposed to prop or fill in off bench.
How many players have we seen come through our juniors who have only so so impressed, leave and become the player we wanted and needed but circumstances prevented it.
Talk on here about Sasagi, now with Canberra, going well but generally used as a fill in, not allowed to develop in his preferred position, preferred meaning his best
I haven’t counted but I guess that at least 10 Knights players have left us in the past 5 years and gone on to play regular firsts in more successful teams than Knights have achieved in that period
 
I think crokes actually reads a game quite well. He finds defenders who have been working hard and runs at them which in turn creates him getting through the line for a quick PTB. Hopefully keeps this role when pong and dylbro get back coz it'll worry a lot of teams just getting repeated quick play the ball.

When he's been coming off the bench it's harder to get a read on what's happening so he gets monstered a fair bit as your not really paying attention like you would be if you start.
 
I see him as a future coach.
People forget that he is an intelligent and well spoken guy and also that he came through our system when we were putting a lot of time and money into elite juniors, and he made all the NSW sides except 1 I think.
He has been captain at different levels, always kept his nose clean, even done social media for the club.
He's 26 and could be up to 100 firstgrade games by the end of this year.
By the time he has finished his playing career he will have been at the club for 15 years or more and will have a massive amount of experience at every level from Harold Mats to firstgrade.
I can see him starting as a junior coach from the day his playing career is done and working his way up to firstgrade.
 
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