Super League 2023: Man of Steel Brodie Croft happy to share limelight with fellow Salford Red Devils | Rugby League News

Brodie Croft emerged as one of the stars of the Betfred Super League in 2022 as Salford reached the play-off semi-finals; watch the Red Devils kick off their season away to promoted Leigh Leopards on Friday 17 February live on Sky Sports from 7.30pm

Brodie Croft enters the 2023 Super League season as the Man of Steel

Brodie Croft may be hailed as the Man of Steel after an impressive debut season for the Salford Red Devils, but the Australian midfielder is at pains to point to last season’s play-off semi-final with a host of other contributors.

For starters, there’s the fact that fellow Red Devils Tim Lafai and Ken Sio were named in the Betfred Super League Dream Team alongside the 25-year-old, with the Samoan duo then playing to help the international reach Rugby League. World Cup final for the first time.

Current Red Devils squad members Mark Sneyd, Andy Ackers, Kallum Watkins (England), Ryan Brierley (Scotland), Rhys Williams (Wales) and King Vuniyayawa (Fiji) have all received calls to the global meet, and while Croft appreciated the attention his own performances accepted he likes to share the limelight.

“We’ve got a strong playing group and sometimes I think we’ve been forgotten at Salford,” Croft said. Sky Sports.

“If anything, I’m proud to see those boys make the team and achieve that, knowing I had a little bit to help them.

“I certainly don’t take it for granted and appreciate the attention, but I’m lucky in the environment I have in Salford with my playing group and also my family at home.

“He kept me grounded, so I’m very happy where I am now, and people can say what they want.”

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Watch all the efforts of Man of Steel Brodie Croft for Salford Red Devils in the Super League.

After two tough seasons with the Brisbane Broncos back in the NRL, it’s clear the move to Salford and the Super League has given Croft a new lease of life and seen him return to being more of an exciting talent in Melbourne. A storm during the 2017 campaign.

The impact is associated with a quick return to Australia’s premier competition in 2024 when the initial two-year contract with the Red Devils expires, but has committed to the current club by signing a contract until 2030. night of the new Super League campaign.

“A couple of factors will definitely be the stability it provides for me and my family, because me and my missus have two children under the age of two, and behind only the club,” Croft said of the unprecedented contract extension.

“The people at the club who make Salford really enjoy going to work every day, so between the two of them it’s definitely a major factor in signing a deal like this – because of course the weather isn’t!

We have a strong playing group and sometimes I feel we are forgotten in Salford.

Reigning Super League Man of Steel Brodie Croft

“I think like in most workplaces when there are problems at home, and you have a good environment at home and in the workplace, your best performances come out.

“I was lucky enough to get things done very early and to be in an environment where I felt welcomed and there was a lot of love and joy around the boys that made you want to play for each other. Fortunately, those results started to change the way we ended the year .”

After being tipped by many observers to struggle in 2022, Salford defied the naysayers by reaching the play-offs and then went on to go within 80 minutes of the Grand Final, pushing champions St Helens all the way before eventually losing 19-12 at the Totally Wicked Stadium. .

Now all eyes are on the Red Devils to see if they can replicate that in 2023 and Paul Rowley’s side will kick off the season on Friday, live on Sky Sportswhen they traveled to be promoted to Leigh Leopards.

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Salford half-back Brodie Croft paid tribute to his wife, family and friends after being named as the 2022 Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel.

Whatever the expectations of people from the outside though, Croft is determined to keep his mind on the project at hand – following an approach that worked well for him and the team last year.

“The best way to get out about it is just to block it out, I guess,” said Croft. “People can write storylines and say what they want, but we have to go out and do the work every week.

“We have a good environment at the club between the players and the coaching staff, and we know what we can do.

“We know the hard work it will take to get us there, and I believe in this group [that] we can stick to our guns, do it, and get something special this year.

Salford Red Devils travel to promoted Leigh Leopards in the first round of the new Super League season on Saturday 17 February live on Sky Sports. Watch 66 live matches, including Magic Weekend, play-offs and the Grand Final, on Sky Sports in 2023 and stream on NOW TV.