Reports: Brodie Croft lined up as NRL side’s ‘saviour’

Reports down under have highlighted Leeds Rhinos playmaker Brodie Croft as the potential ‘saviour’ for an NRL struggler.

Brodie Croft made the move to headingley ahead of the 2024 season but it’s already being reported by The Daily Telegraph that Gold Coast Titans are lining up a move for the 26-year-old.

The Telegraph that Croft has been “thrown up as a recruitment target for Titans coach Des Hasler”, with Hasler having dropped half-back Tanah Boyd last week.

It seems that the move would be made for the 2025 season but even that would lead to a significant pay-off to the Rhinos given that Croft signed a lengthy deal when he joined the Headingley club.

There’s also the question of whether the Rhinos would be willing to part with Croft considering that the double swoop for Croft and Andy Ackers from Salford cost the club a reported £300,000, with CEO Gary Hetherington labelling it as the “biggest investment in one go” since signing Iestyn Harris over 20 years ago.

What Brodie Croft’s agent had to say?

Much of The Telegraph’s report is based on comments from the manager of Brodie Croft, with Chris Orr explaining that the Australian does want an NRL return at some stage.

He said: “Brodie went to the Super League where he has regained his running game and become one of the most lethal runners in the competition,” he said.

“He’s won the Man of Steel and could win it again this year. He is playing his best football.

“He’s switched clubs (from Salford to Leeds) and doing a really good job for the Rhinos. His coach Rohan Smith has been rapping him to me and says he’s been a fantastic acquisition as a player and person.”

Elaborating further, Orr said: “Brodie absolutely has NRL aspirations and has got NRL options in his contract every year.

“When you look at the best halfbacks in the game – and take Nathan Cleary out – they are over 30 these days. Brodie is entering the matured part of his career.”

Interestingly, The Telegraph also report that Gold Coast tried to sign Brodie Croft last year but that a deal couldn’t be done but with issues in the position, they’re set to take a second look.

Should Leeds Rhinos let Brodie Croft leave?

The major question surrounds how big a return on investment the Rhinos would get as well as obviously how they would replace Croft themselves.

With just four wins in Super League so far this season, Leeds sit outside the playoffs but a win against Huddersfield Giants on Friday could propel them into the top six.

That’s despite the new spine not clicking yet with Lachie Miller showing sparks but the pairing of Brodie Croft and Matt Frawley failing to truly light on fire yet.

If the Rhinos were able to find a new half and spin a profit on Croft then it would make no sense for them to stand in the player’s way, should he want to leave.

However, it would mark yet another year of spine insecurity and these reports already look set to create another year of rumours around the club’s star players, just as was last year with Blake Austin and Aiden Sezer.