Michael Crocker
Personal information
Full name	Michael Crocker
Born	21 June 1980 (1980-06-21) (age 29)
	Auburn, New South Wales, Australia
Height	185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	100 kg (15 st 10 lb)
Playing information
Position	Second-row, Lock
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2001–05	Sydney Roosters	92	20	75	0	230
2006–08	Melbourne Storm	39	7	0	0	28
2009–	South Sydney	9	2	0	0	8
	Total	140	29	75	0	266
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2003–09	Queensland Maroons	10	3	0	0	12
2003–08	Australia	6	1	0	0	4
Source: NRL Stats, Daily Telegraph

Michael Crocker (born 21 June 1980 in Auburn, New South Wales) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer with the South Sydney Rabbitohs of the NRL. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative back row forward, he previously played for the Sydney Roosters and the Melbourne Storm clubs, winning the 2002 and 2007 NRL Premierships with them respectively.

[edit] Playing career

[edit] Sydney Roosters

Crocker made his NRL debut in 2001 for the Sydney Roosters. In doing so, he became the 1000th player to play for the Sydney eastern suburbs club.^[1]

During his career with the Roosters, he made three consecutive Grand Final appearances between 2002 and 2004 which included winning the premiership in 2002. In the 2004 decider against the Bulldogs, Crocker was the last player to touch the ball in the game. Trailing 16-13 and with less than seconds left on the game, Crocker appeared to make a break down the right-hand side of the field about 30 metres out from the Bulldogs line but lost control of the ball when Andrew Ryan made contact with his arms, dislodging the ball.

Having played previously in Queensland for the Redcliffe Dolphins, Crocker made his State of Origin debut for the Maroons whilst playing with the Sydney Roosters in 2003. He became the 136th player to represent Queensland in State of Origin and he scored a try on debut in the second match of the series.^[2] Crocker also debuted for the Australian Kangaroos in 2003, becoming the 714th player to represent his country in the green and gold. ^[3]

[edit] Melbourne Storm

After signing with the Melbourne Storm in 2006 he became the Storm's lucky charm; in the three years he was with Melbourne, he played in only three losing games, including the Storms loss to Manly in the 2008 NRL Grand Final.

In the 2006 preliminary final match against the St George Illawarra Dragons he injured his knee, forcing him to miss the Grand Final match against the Brisbane Broncos, which Melbourne lost.

He was part of the victorious Melbourne Storm 2007 NRL Grand Final team against Manly-Warringah.^[4] His contribution to the win was highlighted when he knocked out Manly fullback Brett Stewart with a massive hit shortly after half time. Chasing a bomb kicked sky high by Greg Inglis, Crocker pursued the ball to tackle Stewart alongside fellow Storm player Billy Slater. This bone crunching tackle took the wind out of Manly, briefly knocked out his own team mate Slater, and resulted in Brett Stewart leaving the field and being sidelined for the rest of the match. Several minutes later, Crocker went on and scored a decisive try.

Crocker's performance in the Grand Final earned him a position in the 2007 New Zealand v Australia Centenary Test, his first international selection since 2004. The Australian team went on to win this test by the biggest margain in history.

His representative career continued throughout 2008. Crocker played in all 3 games for Queensland in State of Origin, with Queensland winning the series. He also played for Australia in the Centenary Test winning 28-12 against New Zealand.^[5]

Crocker was a member of the Melbourne team which was defeated by the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the 2008 NRL Grand Final.^[6] At the end of the season, Crocker was named in the Australia team for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup,^[7] and was due to play but had to withdraw through a rib injury sustained in the grand final.^[8]

Crocker was contracted to Melbourne Storm for the 2009 NRL season but activated a clause in 2008 that allowed him to accept a lucrative contract with English club Hull FC.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] South Sydney Rabbitohs

Crocker planned to join European Super League side Hull FC for the 2009 season on a three year contract.^[9][10] Hull FC confirmed they had signed Crocker on a three-year contract from the 2009 season with the club "delighted" with the signing,^[11][12][13] although a visa application to work in the United Kingdom was rejected, in part due to a 2005 conviction for affray.^[14]

The British High Commission rejected Crocker's appeal to be allowed to work in the UK in May, 2009, but did not give an official reason.^[15] Crocker signed a contract with the South Sydney Rabbitohs for three and a half years, making an immediate start with the club.^[16]. Crocker's debut came in the round 10 NRL match against the West Tigers on 18 May 2009 played at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

[edit] Controversy

In 2005, Crocker was involved in an alcohol-fueled disturbance outside The Palace Hotel in Sydney. He was arrested and pleaded guilty to affray and fined $10,000 by the Sydney Roosters.^[17][18]

In an interview with media regarding players for the 2008 World Cup team Australian national coach Ricky Stuart declared English-bound forward Crocker had played his last game for Australia due to his pending defection to English club Hull FC.^[19] However, in August 2008, Crocker was named in the preliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup despite earlier comments by Kangaroos' coach, Ricky Stuart, that he would not select players leaving Australia to play in England in 2009.^[20][21]

[edit] Judiciary record

Notorious for his tough playing style combined with high and sometimes dangerous tackles, Crocker has missed a number of games through suspension. Since 2001, Crocker has faced ten judiciary charges, and been suspended for a total of 21 weeks.^[22]

[edit] Off the field

Crocker married Sally Carne, the cousin of rugby league footballer Willie Carne, in 2008. The wedding party included his two best friends and fellow league players Clint Newton and Billy Slater.^[23] Crocker studies real estate and property development in his spare time and enjoys reading the Harry Potter novels, surfing, and riding horses. ^[24][25]

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] External links

• State of Origin Official website Rugby League Player Stats
• Melbourne Storm Profile Melbourne Storm - Official Website
• National Rugby League Profile National Rugby League Home
• Michael Crocker Rugby League Tables & Statistics
• State of Origin / Queensland Players Rugby League Tables & Statistics