Sir Gregory ParsloePExeter Rhino:
I like Croft. However, a club of Leeds' ambitions has certain expectations of a marquee half-back.
Is Croft up there with the very best halves in the competition? While there have been glimpses and occasional game-breaking performances, let's be honest, he's just not doing it enough. He's no French or Lewis (at Leeds), not even close.
Is Croft up there with the best Leeds halves we've seen in recent decades? The answer is a firm 'no', but perhaps he still has time on his side, especially if the Arthur message keeps to bed in. Definitely behind the likes of Schofield, Harris, McGuire and Sinfield Snr. As good as Gale (factoring in Gale's kicking game)? Being better (at Leeds) than Sezer, Frawley, Sutcliffe, Austin etc isn't really the hallmark of the player we're looking for.
I would say if the price is right *and* a better player is available, we should move. These things are unlikely to happen though, and we're probably better off with him for now.
We have to be patient with Croft. He was our stand out player last season, behind a pack that got smashed almost every week. I really don't think any of the all time great players you have listed above would have made us a top six side. This year he was knocked out cold in game 2, and looked very good paired with Connor in games where we beat Wigan and were beating Wire 14 -6 when he left the field. In short he's been unlucky. I think, in a settled spine, behind the pack we've now assembled he'll go really well. Think we should stick with him and Connor as halves and let them build an understanding. We don't want to start another year with yet another pair of new half backs struggling to gell.
