Hooker for 2021

[Simonmyers11]

Croker is crap. Please feel free to throw this back at me every week of the season. I'd love it if there was any justification. Can't pass. Can't read a game. Turns into a puddle of wee under pressure.

Agree.

 

[Simonmyers11]

Croker will do his job, and do it well.
As has been noted numerous times last season, he has a bad habit of trying too hard (which can happen when you are bouncing around positions on a weekly basis).
If he starts at 9, I expect Croker to keep it simple and play his role, no more, no less.

I also understand that every Manly side needs a Silvertails whipping boy, and it is Crokers lot in life to carry that burden this season.

I wish I could share your enthusiasm, problem is he has failed pretty much everytime he has played first grade. The problem is hooker is such a vital position in today's game, more than it has been in year's gone by. Just doesn't cut it to go out there and simply pass and tackle. You need to be able to read the game, have footy smarts about you. Know when to pass, or run. Whether to go open or blind side, suck in tired defence, throw a short ball off your hip or go out the back deep. Crocker cannot do any of the above and the problem is also he doesn't seem to gel well with DCE. Hope Im wrong, but think we will struggle until we hopefully get Faniu back

 

[Simonmyers11]

I really feel for him. Played 6 & 7 as a junior. An under sized, but skilled (and quick) back. Represented NSW and Australia (and did well in that arena as well). Had huge wraps on him. Was about to get more 1st grade time with Canberra, and suffered a serious injury.

Comes to Manly, as a back, but due to injury, roster management, form, utility value, is forced to play out of position at dummy half. He (late last season) relegated a specialist Hooker back to the bench so he could start in the position.

He played 1/2, 5/8, hooker, with an array of players around him (3-4 different fullbacks), (2-3 different 5/8's), but a consistent half back, who in my opinion, was quite out of form (like the rest of the team).

He's determination from coming back from injury says a lot about his character. He played and bled (literally) for us. 90% of the time, he did everything that was asked of him, and agree, had a few clangers.

People forget he's 23, and only had 20-30 NRL games experience last year (probably 80% of these out of position, or having to change position during games due to players like Suli / Parker / Walker going down so often.

Can we PLEASE give him a chance guys? Okay, still being asked to play out of position. But a full off season of training at dummy half, rebuilding the body to suit that position. Let's see what he has in store for us.

I think we'll be pleasantly surprised. There's a lot to be said about character. The kid has plenty.

I think we have all been giving him a chance for 4 years now. Had two full seasons as first choice 5/8 his preferred position (albeit with his fair share of long term injuries) Has also been used a lot off bench and as hooker. His best position I feel with Faniu gets back is left right out altogether. Id admire his courage and perseverance, just not his skills as a first grade NRL player

 

[Woodsie]

Opinions and feelings are mixed regarding Croker's ability to be an effective 1st grade dummy half ... that is healthy and expected on any forum .. but what I can't come to ever like is the disrespectful and personal insults some people seem to need to throw at him .. just because he is not as good as they want him to be ..

Fair dinkum .. he seems a great young man ... tries his guts out ... has come back through 3 knee reconstructions .. and as a half seems to have put his hand up and said I'll have a go at hooker for you Dessie ...

Some of the comments about him are the sort of things I would expect on the Parra or Bulldogs forum ...

 

[The Wheel]

Whatever you think of Froggy we need him to fire at hooker - especially if we want to be pushing for a top 4 spot.

 

[Kevinward777]

When you have Turbo Chez Schuster Walker Foran Taupau Saab Suli Jake do we really need Croker to "win" us games?

BOOM!

 

[mave]

Opinions and feelings are mixed regarding Croker's ability to be an effective 1st grade dummy half ... that is healthy and expected on any forum .. but what I can't come to ever like is the disrespectful and personal insults some people seem to need to throw at him .. just because he is not as good as they want him to be ..

Fair dinkum .. he seems a great young man ... tries his guts out ... has come back through 3 knee reconstructions .. and as a half seems to have put his hand up and said I'll have a go at hooker for you Dessie ...

Some of the comments about him are the sort of things I would expect on the Parra or Bulldogs forum ...

Yes....but ST needs a whipping boy.

 

[Kevinward777]

Opinions and feelings are mixed regarding Croker's ability to be an effective 1st grade dummy half ... that is healthy and expected on any forum .. but what I can't come to ever like is the disrespectful and personal insults some people seem to need to throw at him .. just because he is not as good as they want him to be ..

Fair dinkum .. he seems a great young man ... tries his guts out ... has come back through 3 knee reconstructions .. and as a half seems to have put his hand up and said I'll have a go at hooker for you Dessie ...

Some of the comments about him are the sort of things I would expect on the Parra or Bulldogs forum ...

@Woodsie chastising others for throwing out insults. Now, that's hypocrisy in its most refined state.

PSS... Just for the record, I agree that the insults are harsh and needless. Except when Trent Barrett is involved.

 

[Bring back the.... Biff?]

Opinions and feelings are mixed regarding Croker's ability to be an effective 1st grade dummy half ... that is healthy and expected on any forum .. but what I can't come to ever like is the disrespectful and personal insults some people seem to need to throw at him .. just because he is not as good as they want him to be ..

Fair dinkum .. he seems a great young man ... tries his guts out ... has come back through 3 knee reconstructions .. and as a half seems to have put his hand up and said I'll have a go at hooker for you Dessie ...

Some of the comments about him are the sort of things I would expect on the Parra or Bulldogs forum ...

He tries hard because he doesn't want to go on the dole. The guy is not good enough simple as that. Im very surprised des kept him and let levi go. Maybe an attitude thing i dunno.

 

[Simonmyers11]

BOOM!

Hopefully they can all stay on the field this year!

 

[Kevinward777]

He tries hard because he doesn't want to go on the dole. The guy is not good enough simple as that. Im very surprised des kept him and let levi go. Maybe an attitude thing i dunno.

I think Des may have had no choice when it came to keeping Croker. He had a year to run on his contract and I doubt there would have been many (if any) takers.

 

[Kevinward777]

Hopefully they can all stay on the field this year!

Wouldn't that be something.

 

[mave]

He tries hard because he doesn't want to go on the dole. The guy is not good enough simple as that. Im very surprised des kept him and let levi go. Maybe an attitude thing i dunno.

Have we (you) considered that Croker was retained by Des, whilst Levi was let go, because Croker is able to be moulded into the generic #9 that Des wants ?

 

[Woodsie]

@Woodsie chastising others for throwing out insults. Now, that's hypocrisy in its most refined state.

PSS... Just for the record, I agree that the insults are harsh and needless. Except when Trent Barrett is involved.

Well, when you play 20 games for Manly and have 1/10th the character of Croker ... I may afford you the same consideration and respect ...until then ... you're just another big mouth ..

 

[Ryan]

I think we have all been giving him a chance for 4 years now. Had two full seasons as first choice 5/8 his preferred position (albeit with his fair share of long term injuries) Has also been used a lot off bench and as hooker. His best position I feel with Faniu gets back is left right out altogether. Id admire his courage and perseverance, just not his skills as a first grade NRL player

We've been giving him a chance for 4 years? He's played 33 games in total (32 for Manly). Of those 32, he played 20 last season. He's also only been at Manly 3 seasons?

Of those 20 games, he played:
15 games Interchange player (i.e. 14 jersey)
4 games as a 5/8
1 game as a starting hooker

That leaves 11 games outside of this where you say he had two full seasons as first choice 5/8. If you're talking 2019, he played 5 games, and interestingly, he won 80% of those games (4 from 5). 2018, he played 8 games (but that year was a write off in every sense - clubs equal worst year ever ).

That being said, your entitled to your opinion of course. I'm hoping his gameplay speaks volumes for him this season. Des Hasler has elected to keep him over Levi. Says a lot to me.

 

[Simonmyers11]

I think Des may have had no choice when it came to keeping Croker. He had a year to run on his contract and I doubt there would have been many (if any) takers.

Exactly. Levi was always going to be just a 1 year contract. Unfortunately, due to covid and back log of court cases, the Faniu saga is dragging on longer than Sea Eagles management would of hoped for, and am sure they are hoping we get some good news come May.

 

[Woodsie]

He tries hard because he doesn't want to go on the dole.

You are a very ordinary person ..

 

[Kevinward777]

Well, when you play 20 games for Manly and have 1/10th the character of Croker ... I may afford you the same consideration and respect ...until then ... you're just another big mouth ..

My apologies mate.

I will try to follow your fine example by displaying meekness and putting forward soft opinions in the future.

 

[Simonmyers11]

We've been giving him a chance for 4 years? He's played 33 games in total (32 for Manly). Of those 32, he played 20 last season. He's also only been at Manly 3 seasons?

Of those 20 games, he played:
15 games Interchange player (i.e. 14 jersey)
4 games as a 5/8
1 game as a starting hooker

That leaves 11 games outside of this where you say he had two full seasons as first choice 5/8. If you're talking 2019, he played 5 games, and interestingly, he won 80% of those games (4 from 5). 2018, he played 8 games (but that year was a write off in every sense - clubs equal worst year ever ).

That being said, your entitled to your opinion of course. I'm hoping his gameplay speaks volumes for him this season. Des Hasler has elected to keep him over Levi. Says a lot to me.

Yep, 3 seasons your right. Felt like 4 . Mate, I hope he can prove me wrong and will be cheering for him like I do any player that pulls on the Manly jersey. Just not confident from the games I have watched him play. In saying that, we all know Dezzie can transform an average player into a consistent nrl player, hoping this can happen with Crocker. We will just have to wait and see

 

[Kevinward777]

Well, when you play 20 games for Manly and have 1/10th the character of Croker ... I may afford you the same consideration and respect ...until then ... you're just another big mouth ..

PSSSSSS.... I think Croker will do well this season.
PSSSSSSSSSS.... Barrett still sucks socks!