Leeds halfback Brodie Croft has tipped off NRL fans that it might worth taking lip-reading lessons before they sit down to watch the Rhinos take on Super League champions Hull KR at Allegiant Stadium.
“They’ve got some players in their team … who like to get under our skins and we’ve got some players on our team who like to get under their skins as well,” said the 28-year-old former Melbourne and Brisbane no.7, who the subject of speculation around an NRL return in 2027.
“I think you can see it. When you turn on the TV in round three and see Hull KR versus Leeds, you’ll see that pretty early on.”
While Croft wasn’t naming names, Leeds’ Jake Connor and Harry Newman and KR’s Mikey Lewis are known to play with their proverbial hearts on their sleeves.
Croft and Perth Bears signing Newman jumped at the chance provided by NRL.com to “sell” the Super League game to Australasian fans who will either be watching on TV or travelling Stateside for the February 28 triple header.
“KR won it last year, they won the treble and they’ve been one of the form teams of the last few years actually,” Croft said.
“Since (Hull KR coach) Willie Peters has been there, he’s really built that club up to be a competitive force and we’ve had some really good rivalries - particularly last season.
“They pipped us once in the last five minutes and then we pipped them twice, once at KR as well which was a big win.
“It’s a huge rivalry that the boys really get up for. They always get up for it as well.
“Yeah, it’s a good contest.”
With Leeds eliminated from the play-offs last year by a St Helens try after the siren, Brad Arthur’s team has been installed as one of the front-runners to end the dominance of the Robins, who meet Brisbane in the World Club Challenge on February 19 at MKM Stadium.
“For a start, we’ve got the Man of Steel, Jake Connor, and they’ve got the previous Man of Steel in Mikey Lewis,” said Newman, who has signed a two-year contract with the Bears.
“Both teams throw the ball about. Both teams play an exciting brand of rugby league. It’s not too different to what they watch over in Australia.
“Look, I think we’re getting some changes in the rules this year. It’s going to be as fast as the NRL, the way they’re speeding up the rucks. We were able to witness that (against Wakefield) in Boxing Day. We’ve had referees into training explaining all that to us.”
Leeds and Hull KR each have pre-season games this weekend, the Rhinos hosting newly-promoted Bradford and Rovers taking on Wakefield.
British media is intensely interested in Croft's plans when his contract expires at the end of the year but says he has left all negotiations in the hands of his agent.
