Jarrod Croker

All the news on the Canberra Raiders NRL team, all in one place

Moderator: GH Moderators

User avatar
Botman
Mal Meninga
Posts: 41997
Joined: June 18, 2013, 4:31 pm
Favourite Player: Elliott Whitehead

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by Botman »

Again, im not trying to argue for Croker performing well, or in defence of him at all. Just a remark about that specific measure

IMO, it's a poor choice of measure as it relates to Croker because not being able to break tackles is not why Croker is performing poorly.
He's never been able to break tackles consistently. Not when he was rookie, not in his prime and not now. In spite of this, from his debut season until 2020, he was an effective attacking player. He's no longer appearing to be an effective attacking player and it has IMO, little if anything to do with his inability to break tackles because that was simply never an arrow he had in the quiver.

Like i said, at the peak of his powers, when he was a very good attacking threat as a centre, I don't think his tackle breaks would be meaningfully different.

I think the modern NRL centre is tending to be as you say, an athletic, bustling tackle breaker. But that's been that way for about 10 years now, that's nothing new, and it's also just not who Croker is or ever was. And as he and others have showed, there is room for other styles of centre. I dont disagree with you about the eye test telling us things about Croker and his game, and the call back to Fensom is fair.

Things i think are better indicators for Croker's decline would be line breaks, which are down over the last 18 months. He simply isn't able to beat anyone for speed anymore and his footwork is slow.

Running metres and PTB speed, which i have to imagine are down. Whilst he was never a huge metres guy, what he was good at was taking a hit up, getting the 7-8 metres available, getting to his stomach and getting a quick PTB... now he's just getting monstered almost every time and driven backwards.

I would look at his ball playing stats like offloads and assists. I think he's always possessed a good late offload/tap on/flick ball, and quick accurate hands... asfknaka and i discussed that earlier, but there is reason to think these skills are waning and the stats back that up.

To me tackle breaks for Croker is a stat as useful as kicking metres for Papalii... just not a stat that tells me anything about how the player is performing relative to his peak
User avatar
papabear
Steve Walters
Posts: 7038
Joined: August 27, 2007, 2:26 pm
Location: leafy part of sydney

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by papabear »

tbh I agree with the above and in general I am not a huge fan of tackle breaks as a measure of success.

Rapana used to rate very highly on this for garbage runs going sideways.

Better stats for me is line breaks and line break assists, or average metres per carry.
User avatar
Northern Raider
Mal Meninga
Posts: 32522
Joined: June 19, 2007, 8:17 am
Favourite Player: Dean Lance
Location: Greener pastures

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by Northern Raider »

papabear wrote: April 23, 2021, 1:23 pm tbh I agree with the above and in general I am not a huge fan of tackle breaks as a measure of success.

Rapana used to rate very highly on this for garbage runs going sideways.

Better stats for me is line breaks and line break assists, or average metres per carry.
Rapana is still rating highly on the stat. He's currently equal 5th in the NRL along with Cotric.

Tackle breaks are important though not all tackle breaks are equal.
* The author assumes no responsibility for the topicality, correctness, completeness or quality of information provided.
User avatar
papabear
Steve Walters
Posts: 7038
Joined: August 27, 2007, 2:26 pm
Location: leafy part of sydney

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by papabear »

Breaking the line is so much more important then running into a guy two metres away at a different angle so you can break a tackler or get tackle two metres later.
User avatar
Rick
Steve Walters
Posts: 7516
Joined: August 11, 2008, 3:56 pm
Favourite Player: Daley
Location: Darwin

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by Rick »

papabear wrote:Breaking the line is so much more important then running into a guy two metres away at a different angle so you can break a tackler or get tackle two metres later.
Regardless, Crocker is doing none of these things and has not done so in a very long time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
User avatar
Kryptonite
John Ferguson
Posts: 2483
Joined: June 4, 2012, 8:27 am
Favourite Player: Terry Reagan
Location: Brisbane

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by Kryptonite »

Rick wrote: April 23, 2021, 5:45 pm
papabear wrote:Breaking the line is so much more important then running into a guy two metres away at a different angle so you can break a tackler or get tackle two metres later.
Regardless, Crocker is doing none of these things and has not done so in a very long time.

What are Croker post contact meters gained on an average over the last 10 yrs, I think that would be a fair measure
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
RedRaider
Laurie Daley
Posts: 11265
Joined: March 3, 2007, 7:02 pm

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by RedRaider »

greeneyed wrote: April 23, 2021, 11:07 am These are the try cause stats for the Raiders and it’s a pretty fair reflection on how the right side defence is going: https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... =tryCauses
Thanks for the stats GE. Yet another reason to get Rapa over on the right where he belongs. He has played most of his career on the right wing and can read the play far better BS.

Outside backs have become power runners. Even those who are not tall like To'o are difficult to tackle and strong. The other type are jumpers and quick, leaping for targeted bombs on the opposition line. We have Kris and Timoko and Rapa in the power runner category but they are not together in the one side. Croker is good at chasing attacking bombs but we seem to have put that tactic away since he was run off the ball so many times. I say change the location of the attacking bomb. There is no reason why he cannot move to the center of the field and the bombs are directed at the opposition goal posts. Front rowers don't have the blocking subtlety of outside backs and I think he may do well there.
User avatar
Canberra Milk
Laurie Daley
Posts: 15203
Joined: January 6, 2005, 8:44 pm
Favourite Player: Leipana

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by Canberra Milk »

$600k/year for 4 years honestly... combined with the Scott failure could be Sticky's undoing
Turbo_Raider
Glenn Lazarus
Posts: 348
Joined: June 13, 2007, 11:38 am
Favourite Player: Big Papa
Location: Melbourne
Contact:

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by Turbo_Raider »

Just sad watching his demise... Sad and embarrassing. Really starting to tarnish a solid career.
User avatar
-TW-
Mal Meninga
Posts: 35369
Joined: July 2, 2007, 11:41 am

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by -TW- »

It's over, I'm on the wagon.

It's indefensible now

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

User avatar
Mickey_Raider
Jason Croker
Posts: 4340
Joined: March 16, 2008, 7:15 am
Favourite Player: Big Papa
Location: North Sydney

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by Mickey_Raider »

Poor bloke was almost crying in the post match interview.

I am saying this seriously: the morale of the team is being damaged by having its worst player as captain. A captain cannot be vocal and assertive when they can’t back it up with actions.
Up The Milk
User avatar
Rickmando
John Ferguson
Posts: 2663
Joined: May 22, 2017, 3:41 pm
Favourite Player: Ricky Stuart

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by Rickmando »

Wheel out the double-barrelled cannon...
User avatar
GreenMachine
Jason Croker
Posts: 4264
Joined: April 13, 2005, 2:22 pm
Favourite Player: Laurie Daley

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by GreenMachine »

Someone pass his mobile number to Trent Merrin, so they can chat about some of “these signs”...
User avatar
afgtnk
Laurie Daley
Posts: 10712
Joined: April 7, 2007, 1:45 am
Favourite Player: Crotic

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by afgtnk »

Starting to look like he's definitely done for good now, beyond any doubt. Sticky has a tough decision to make, but with Simonsson available again he needs to do it.

Though it won't fix the problem we have by itself, you cannot have a player playing like this in your side, no matter who they are.
Turbo_Raider
Glenn Lazarus
Posts: 348
Joined: June 13, 2007, 11:38 am
Favourite Player: Big Papa
Location: Melbourne
Contact:

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by Turbo_Raider »

Mickey_Raider wrote: April 24, 2021, 9:47 pm Poor bloke was almost crying in the post match interview.

I am saying this seriously: the morale of the team is being damaged by having its worst player as captain. A captain cannot be vocal and assertive when they can’t back it up with actions.
hit the nail on the head. What message is this sending everyone picking him week after week.
Bovrick
Ken Nagas
Posts: 142
Joined: July 18, 2020, 8:04 pm

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by Bovrick »

It's depressing, right now Croker is looking like a man who has come to a similar conclusion to this thread. If he believes it, then I can't see how he can come back from that.
User avatar
GreenMachine
Jason Croker
Posts: 4264
Joined: April 13, 2005, 2:22 pm
Favourite Player: Laurie Daley

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by GreenMachine »

afgtnk wrote: April 24, 2021, 9:52 pm Starting to look like he's definitely done for good now, beyond any doubt. Sticky has a tough decision to make, but with Simonsson available again he needs to do it.

Though it won't fix the problem we have by itself, you cannot have a player playing like this in your side, no matter who they are.
Our whole backline needs reconstruction surgery...
Look at our yardage out of our own end..embarrassing.
We don’t have anything to compete with the top sides...I’d fathom a guess that Brian To’o had more run meters than our whole backline.
You can’t dominate games without that important detail.
Sure you might stay in the fight longer, but you can’t dominate.
Bay53
Steve Walters
Posts: 7533
Joined: March 11, 2007, 9:35 pm

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by Bay53 »

For the first and only time this season I walked out of the ground tonight glad to not be doing GH live because I knew this would be the main talking point and it is so so sad.

Ricky is trying to send a message at the moment because he feels not all players are giving all the can. Jarrod is no way in this boat, if anything he is trying too hard, but the coaches have a massive decision to make.
rayden83
Alan Tongue
Posts: 673
Joined: March 18, 2018, 7:33 pm
Favourite Player: Rapana

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by rayden83 »

He will be in the side next week, and the week after that, regardless of how he performs. Like someone said, he’s ‘Ricky’s guy’, don’t underestimate Ricky’s loyalty to his favourite players.
Bay53
Steve Walters
Posts: 7533
Joined: March 11, 2007, 9:35 pm

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by Bay53 »

rayden83 wrote: April 24, 2021, 11:23 pm He will be in the side next week, and the week after that, regardless of how he performs. Like someone said, he’s ‘Ricky’s guy’, don’t underestimate Ricky’s loyalty to his favourite players.
He is very close to Ricky. I think he should be. He has been a very loyal captain over many years. He probably wasn’t Ricky’s first choice when he came here (after Campo retired). I think Ricky wanted Sia as captain but as a virtual unknown coming back from England I think the club suggested otherwise.

But sadly Jarrod is really really struggling.
It doesn’t have to be the end though. Perhaps a couple of weeks out is what he needs. The shoulder-injury at the end probably gives a reason to be honest.

Far more than the Hodgo’s injury being an excuse in my opinion.
Bay53
Steve Walters
Posts: 7533
Joined: March 11, 2007, 9:35 pm

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by Bay53 »

There is no doubt the other factor about Jarrod is his goal kicking I am not convinced by George Williams even if he did have a good %.

I could see George Williams having a night like Townsend did against us. In retrospect, that doesn’t happen and our season is nearly over.
rayden83
Alan Tongue
Posts: 673
Joined: March 18, 2018, 7:33 pm
Favourite Player: Rapana

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by rayden83 »

Bay53 wrote: April 24, 2021, 11:31 pm
rayden83 wrote: April 24, 2021, 11:23 pm He will be in the side next week, and the week after that, regardless of how he performs. Like someone said, he’s ‘Ricky’s guy’, don’t underestimate Ricky’s loyalty to his favourite players.
He is very close to Ricky. I think he should be. He has been a very loyal captain over many years. He probably wasn’t Ricky’s first choice when he came here (after Campo retired). I think Ricky wanted Sia as captain but as a virtual unknown coming back from England I think the club suggested otherwise.

But sadly Jarrod is really really struggling.
It doesn’t have to be the end though. Perhaps a couple of weeks out is what he needs. The shoulder-injury at the end probably gives a reason to be honest.

Far more than the Hodgo’s injury being an excuse in my opinion.
No, please don’t give us false hope. Croker is toast. He was toast as soon as Rapana and BJ departed, and even more so since Cotric left. He simply lacks the physical capabilities (strength, speed, power) to affect the game in a positive way. He will always remain a solidly skilled player but micro skills, being a stand up guy and the coaches pet don’t suffice in the modern game.

We could possibly scrape the top 8 with Croker but we will never win a Premiership. We lose nothing by dropping him reserves, at the very least we give a young gun like Timoko a chance to shine at the highest level. Croker is the that old beige suite from the late 70s you have in your wardrobe, fun for nostalgia but never worn.

There’s no point sugarcoating it, Stuart needs to grow a pair and dump his heinie to reserves.
User avatar
Roger Kenworthy
Laurie Daley
Posts: 11505
Joined: January 7, 2005, 10:18 pm
Favourite Player: Ruben Wiki, J-Lo, Jordan Rapana

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by Roger Kenworthy »

Just ridiculous having Seb Kris completely being out of position (and exposed) to accommodate Croker at centre. If Croker must always be at left centre then Kris should be in reserve grade. The problem with that is Stuart knows the optics.

Tough call on Croker surely needs to be made now.
User avatar
-PJ-
Mal Meninga
Posts: 24719
Joined: May 8, 2010, 1:58 pm
Favourite Player: Josh Papalii
Location: 416.9 km from GIO Stadium

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by -PJ- »

It’s time for the coach>captain chat.

Stick to dust off the overhead projector, we all know he bought it with him.

To Stick..

Make the calls coach. Do what’s right.

Love PJ ❤️
3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment..Old Faithful
#emptythetank :shock:
User avatar
Green_Hammock
Bradley Clyde
Posts: 8557
Joined: June 30, 2009, 10:53 am
Favourite Player: Rapana, Campese

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by Green_Hammock »

This is so sad. I love Crokes but can't defend him anymore.

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

LastRaider
John Ferguson
Posts: 2383
Joined: March 31, 2018, 9:30 pm

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by LastRaider »

-PJ- wrote:It’s time for the coach>captain chat.

Stick to dust off the overhead projector, we all know he bought it with him.

To Stick..

Make the calls coach. Do what’s right.

Love PJ Image
PJ, you have a direct line to the coach don’t you? Time to make the call


Sent from my iPhone using The Greenhouse
User avatar
GreenMachine
Jason Croker
Posts: 4264
Joined: April 13, 2005, 2:22 pm
Favourite Player: Laurie Daley

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by GreenMachine »

You want to discuss what is impacting team morale?
It’s seeing the Cadbury’s Favourites get selected every weekend despite how crappy they’re performing.
How do you think the playing group feel when Lui, Soliola, Papalli and Tapine all cop the axe for “ underperforming” but Croker doesn’t...
Think about that for a minute.
User avatar
-PJ-
Mal Meninga
Posts: 24719
Joined: May 8, 2010, 1:58 pm
Favourite Player: Josh Papalii
Location: 416.9 km from GIO Stadium

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by -PJ- »

From the vision I saw of Croker last night post game he knows there’s a bullet with his name on it..

The #3 jersey has been his since 2009.

But unfortunately I can’t see this continuing.
3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment..Old Faithful
#emptythetank :shock:
User avatar
bonehead
Laurie Daley
Posts: 17436
Joined: March 1, 2005, 5:29 am
Location: Smelling The Shiraz

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by bonehead »

-PJ- wrote:From the vision I saw of Croker last night post game he knows there’s a bullet with his name on it..

The #3 jersey has been his since 2009.

But unfortunately I can’t see this continuing.
his highlights reel would be epic but time has raced up on him

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

Edrick The Entertainer
User avatar
-PJ-
Mal Meninga
Posts: 24719
Joined: May 8, 2010, 1:58 pm
Favourite Player: Josh Papalii
Location: 416.9 km from GIO Stadium

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by -PJ- »

bonehead wrote: April 25, 2021, 7:46 am
-PJ- wrote:From the vision I saw of Croker last night post game he knows there’s a bullet with his name on it..

The #3 jersey has been his since 2009.

But unfortunately I can’t see this continuing.
his highlights reel would be epic but time has raced up on him

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk
I’m a fan of Croker as well boney.

It’s very sad watching at the mo.
3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment..Old Faithful
#emptythetank :shock:
User avatar
bonehead
Laurie Daley
Posts: 17436
Joined: March 1, 2005, 5:29 am
Location: Smelling The Shiraz

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by bonehead »

133 tries, at his peak you just knew he'd score from a half chance.
Deadly kick target, I remember a few live games you'd see the defending escorts not set and Croker make them pay.
Even last night Rapana's tries were because Feldt was double stacking Croker

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

Edrick The Entertainer
raiderskater
Jason Croker
Posts: 4908
Joined: July 26, 2015, 8:24 pm
Favourite Player: Croker, Cotric, Sezer
Location: The Land of Lime Green

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by raiderskater »

bonehead wrote: April 25, 2021, 8:43 am Even last night Rapana's tries were because Feldt was double stacking Croker
That decoy line. Other teams still know that if they don't cover him they will pay.


Just one more week. Please.

Because to drop him without giving him one last game at home would be too cruel for words. Don't let his last game be away. Please.
And to all the people who doubted me, hello to them as well. - Mark Webber, Raiders Ballboy and Unluckiest F1 Driver Ever

I'm attacking in the right way, instead of just...attacking in the general direction. - Max Aaron (also eerily apropos for the Green Machine)
kona_dream
Clinton Schifcofske
Posts: 572
Joined: May 13, 2010, 2:31 pm
Favourite Player: Jarrod Croker

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by kona_dream »

Is it a game plan to spread the ball wider quicker? The last couple of weeks there seems to be a lot of ball that cuts Croker out. It would typically go through the hands with a quick draw and pass by him but it seems around half the time they just cut him out.

I love the guy and he has been my favourite player since the under 20s GF. I hope he can make it back to FG standard. But I have a feeling that the shot of him at towards to end of the game holding his shoulder may be the reason Ricky states in the press conference this week. "Jarrod has a shoulder issue and will need to rest it for a week or two or conversely four or five weeks".
User avatar
Rickmando
John Ferguson
Posts: 2663
Joined: May 22, 2017, 3:41 pm
Favourite Player: Ricky Stuart

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by Rickmando »

raiderskater wrote: April 25, 2021, 8:52 am
bonehead wrote: April 25, 2021, 8:43 am Even last night Rapana's tries were because Feldt was double stacking Croker
That decoy line. Other teams still know that if they don't cover him they will pay.


Just one more week. Please.

Because to drop him without giving him one last game at home would be too cruel for words. Don't let his last game be away. Please.
When you are quoting his decoy running as his highlight, as you have multiple times, then you know he is cooked as a player. Anyone can “run those lines”.

Other teams would likely know that even if he were to get the ball and go through the gap, given his lack of pace they’d be able to turn and pull him down within 10m. There would be zero sleep being lost by opposing coaches
Billy Walker
Laurie Daley
Posts: 12392
Joined: April 29, 2017, 7:22 pm
Favourite Player: Ashley Gilbert

Re: Jarrod Croker

Post by Billy Walker »

raiderskater wrote: April 25, 2021, 8:52 am
bonehead wrote: April 25, 2021, 8:43 am Even last night Rapana's tries were because Feldt was double stacking Croker
That decoy line. Other teams still know that if they don't cover him they will pay.


Just one more week. Please.

Because to drop him without giving him one last game at home would be too cruel for words. Don't let his last game be away. Please.
Maybe he can blow the horn at the next home game?
Locked