[Resurrected] Lachlan Croker

[Scorpio]

Gordon was picked over Simpkin because he is a different style of player to him and Croker with his running game and suits coming off the bench more. Simpkin either starts or isn’t in the team at all, it’s part of the reason things went south for him at the Tigers and why he ended up here. He struggled to play 14 behind Api and they’ve also had Da Silva coming through.

I personally like to look at it from a results perspective and we won 4/6 with Simpkin in the side. One loss was against Souffs with a Blacktown quality side and one against Roosters where admittedly his defence was not quite up to scratch. Did Croker’s defence help us when we got flogged by the exact same opposition in the finals? Heck even in his first couple games back we scored the majority of our points while he was off the field.

Croker can train as hard as he wants (and I don’t think that’s the main reason he keeps getting picked, moreso his relationship with the Trbojevic’s and status in the team) but we’ve got a 4 year sample size now that he won’t get us over the hump. Simpkin might not either, but he’s at least a younger option with less of an injury history, comparable defence and far better service having actually played hooker his whole career. Really looking forward to seeing how he goes with the chance to start the new year.

Ask yourself, if the coach/club were entirely convinced with Croker, then why do you think they signed Simpkin, a junior Origin representative, mid-season when we already had 2 hookers plus Lawton?

I think they're entirely aware that hooker is a position where we can improve, but they were always unlikely to immediately put the new guy in the driver's seat. Now Simpkin has a pre-season under his belt and an opportunity at starting the season, so it is up to him to prove that he is the best choice...

I just find the logic that the coach, who sets the standards, observes the players at pre-season training, in-season training, and in all matches, and sees all of the metrics that the spectators don't see, only keeps Croker in the team because Jake and Tom tell him to... to be a bit ridiculous to be honest.

Heck even in his first couple games back we scored the majority of our points while he was off the field.

Just as an aside, this was a phenomenon when Api (who was also criticised for his service) was playing for us in 2019. It was his 4th year here and we only seemed to score points when he was subbed off for Fainu at around 50 minutes into matches. Manase eventually started matches at hooker with Api on the bench by the end of the year. Api then left Manly, won 2 premierships in the next 3 years... and a lot of people on this forum then wished we hadn't moved him on!

 

[BOZO]

I think they're entirely aware that hooker is a position where we can improve, but they were always unlikely to immediately put the new guy in the driver's seat.

How long does it take to put a new guy in the drivers seat ?
They have taken this long because they have focused persisted and Prioritised with Croker for years
No Excuses . We have had enough of them in our Decade of Decline
We need Quick Executions
Its The Quick and the Dead in the Highly Competitive Ruthless NRL Comp
We have been too slow to Recover from our Decade of Decline

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Ask yourself, if the coach/club were entirely convinced with Croker, then why do you think they signed Simpkin, a junior Origin representative, mid-season when we already had 2 hookers plus Lawton?

Not sure of the timing but it could have been when there was still uncertainty whether Croker would recover from his head injury. Lawton isn't a starting 9 and neither was Gordie.
But yes certainly the length of Simpkin's deal suggests Manly saw potential as a regular 1st grader.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

They have taken this long because they have focused persisted and Prioritised with Croker for years

Unlike you, some NRL coaches - including a multiple premiership winning coach - understand the value of toughness for an NRL team.
Croker's toughness won't keep him there forever if his injuries persist. But meanwhile he is a great example to those younger 'more talented' types in what they need to develop if they are to progress.

 

[BOZO]

Unlike you, some NRL coaches - including a multiple premiership winning coach - understand the value of toughness for an NRL team.
Croker's toughness won't keep him there forever if his injuries persist. But meanwhile he is a great example to those younger 'more talented' types in what they need to develop if they are to progress.

Like My self . All Coaches see Toughness is a prerequisite
The Fact is Though Toughness combined with Talent Reins Supreme

We have enough in the coaching staff including Ennis the Premiership Winning Hooker
As Super Premiership Winning coach Bennet has said . The game is simple and players are over coached

 

[Woodsie]

We have creative, point scoring players in abundance ... yes, it would be nice to have a million dollar hooker like Harry grant ... but that would mean we wouldn't have one or more of DCE, Brooks, Turbo or Olakautau ... when DCE retires and Jake takes a haircut, we will be in a position to boost dummy half ...

we currently play a style of game that in attack, simply sees Croker provide good service to our star studded backline. and in defence tackles his bollocks off.

and make no mistake ... if DCE didn't want froggy there .. he wouldn't be there.

In 2024
DCE, 8 tries .. 22 try assists
Brooks, 5 tries .. 23 try assists
Turbo, 17 tries .. 21 try assists
Saab, 12 tries .. 5 try assists
Olakau’atu, 7 tries .. 5 try assists
Koula, 7 tries .. 5 try assists
Garrick. 10 tries .. 7 try assists
Talau 18 tries ... 3 try assists
Hopoate 9 tries ... 7 try assists

Just keep doing what your're doing Froggy .. until we swap your $400k contract for a million dollar dummy half scooter ... you'll do me.

 

[BOZO]

We have creative, point scoring players in abundance ... yes, it would be nice to have a million dollar hooker like Harry grant ... but that would mean we wouldn't have one or more of DCE, Brooks, Turbo or Olakautau ... when DCE retires and Jake takes a haircut, we will be in a position to boost dummy half ...

we currently play a style of game that in attack, simply sees Croker provide good service to our star studded backline. and in defence tackles his bollocks off.

and make no mistake ... if DCE didn't want froggy there .. he wouldn't be there.

In 2024
DCE, 8 tries .. 22 try assists
Brooks, 5 tries .. 23 try assists
Turbo, 17 tries .. 21 try assists
Saab, 12 tries .. 5 try assists
Olakau’atu, 7 tries .. 5 try assists
Koula, 7 tries .. 5 try assists
Garrick. 10 tries .. 7 try assists
Talau 18 tries ... 3 try assists
Hopoate 9 tries ... 7 try assists

Just keep doing what your're doing Froggy .. until we swap your $400k contract for a million dollar dummy half scooter ... you'll do me.

IF that is The case
Lets put our best defensive player in jake at Hooker and be done with it ! 🙂

On the serious side
The Storm have a super Creative Spine in Papenhuyzen , Munster and Hughes and the Icing on their successful clubs cake is Grant
The moral of the story
You cant Go Wrong with a Gun Hooker
Put Grant in our Manly Team and we are a Different Team

 

[Woodsie]

IF that is The case
Lets put our best defensive player in jake at Hooker and be done with it ! 🙂

On the serious side
The Storm have a super Creative Spine in Papenhuyzen , Munster and Hughes and the Icing on their successful clubs cake is Grant
The moral of the story
You cant Go Wrong with a Gun Hooker
Put Grant in our Manly Team and we are a Different Team

Didn't understand a word I said ... did you?

 

[BOZO]

Didn't understand a word I said ... did you?

It is a perspective thing feathered friend
We all understand different perspectives 🙂

 

[Stewbojevic]

We have creative, point scoring players in abundance ... yes, it would be nice to have a million dollar hooker like Harry grant ... but that would mean we wouldn't have one or more of DCE, Brooks, Turbo or Olakautau ... when DCE retires and Jake takes a haircut, we will be in a position to boost dummy half ...

we currently play a style of game that in attack, simply sees Croker provide good service to our star studded backline. and in defence tackles his bollocks off.

and make no mistake ... if DCE didn't want froggy there .. he wouldn't be there.

In 2024
DCE, 8 tries .. 22 try assists
Brooks, 5 tries .. 23 try assists
Turbo, 17 tries .. 21 try assists
Saab, 12 tries .. 5 try assists
Olakau’atu, 7 tries .. 5 try assists
Koula, 7 tries .. 5 try assists
Garrick. 10 tries .. 7 try assists
Talau 18 tries ... 3 try assists
Hopoate 9 tries ... 7 try assists

Just keep doing what your're doing Froggy .. until we swap your $400k contract for a million dollar dummy half scooter ... you'll do me.

There certainly isn’t anything wrong with our attack. But what I think we lack against the best teams in the comp is momentum through the ruck. We lose the battle in the middle which exposes our edges in defence.

Yes, this could be partly attributed to an immobile front row/lock rotation. But I also think it’s partly to do with Croker’s inability to get our middles across the advantage line and peeking through holes. His passing out of dummy half might be acceptable for longer passes to the halves, but it lacks in terms of the way he interprets the defensive line around the ruck and makes the right choice when it comes to short passing. This is an area you’ll see guys like Grant and Api excel at.

He also very rarely runs the ball, so there is very little deception happening around the ruck. Which makes it easier for the opposition middles to control it.

This area of our game notably improved when Simpkin started in my opinion. Sure he has other deficiencies, but we need to try something different if we want to crack into the next tier. Doing the same thing again won’t get a better result.