Josh McCrone
Encyclopedia
Josh McCrone is an Australia
n rugby league
player for the Canberra Raiders
in the National Rugby League
. He currently plays as a five eighth but can also play halfback.
and represented the Country Rugby League at a junior level. He is qualified as an electrician.
but failed to break into the first-grade team in two seasons. He was signed by the Penrith Panthers
in 2007, following coach Matthew Elliott from Canberra to Penrith, before returning to Canberra at the end of the 2008 season without having appeared in the NRL. He moved to the Raiders in 2009, making his first NRL appearance in April, following which he fought Marc Herbert
for a regular first-grade spot as Canberra's starting halfback. McCrone was dropped from the side at the beginning of the 2010 season, relegated to Canberra's feeder club Souths Logan. By the end of the 2010 season, he had returned as the Raiders' regular halfback, forming a combination with five-eighth Terry Campese
to marshal the team through a six-match winning streak, landing the Raiders in the finals before being knocked out by the Wests Tigers
. McCrone is signed to the Raiders through to the end of the 2012 season.
In the 2011 season, Josh has so far scored 6 tries. His halves partner this season has almost always been 20 year old Round 1 1st grade debutant Sam Williams. McCrone was moved to five eighth this year, but he played at halfback last year. The reason was because Terry Campese got a serious knee injury, resulting in a knee reconstruction. Terry was their usual five eighth. He was out of football for about 9 months. As a result, the Raiders looked around for another half, which they found in Matt Orford. Matt went over to England after he left the Manly Sea Eagles. In round 1 against the Cronulla Sharks in Canberra, Matt was not physically well enough to play because of an injury. To see a story on that match, click here. They needed to call up Toyota Cup star Sam Williams, and he had an impressive 1st grade debut. Matt started playing in round 2 against the Broncos at Canberra Stadium. Williams was forced back to the Toyota Cup. Orford was anything but good for that match, and every other game he was in. He another injury that forced him out of round 6, and Canberra called up Williams again. He was again, a very impressive halfback for the Raiders. Orford was back into the team in round 8 to face the Wests Tigers, and again wasn't very good at all. Sam was back in round 11 to face the Canterbury Bulldogs. Sam has kept on playing since round 11, and scored 2 tries in round 16 against the Parramatta Eels. Sam just simply became Canberra's permanent halfback, no matter if Orford was injured or not. During that whole ordeal, McCrone was always in the squad at five eighth. McCrone and Williams have became great friends this season, and also one of the best halves combination the NRL.
Josh has shown that when he plays well, his team plays well. He has definitely made a point that he State of Origin worthy, so don't be surprised if he's in the NSW team next year.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player for the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
in the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
. He currently plays as a five eighth but can also play halfback.
Early and personal life
McCrone was born on 12 May 1987. He played his junior football in Temora, New South WalesTemora, New South Wales
Temora is a town located in north east part of the Riverina area of New South Wales, south-west of the state capital, Sydney. At the 2006 census the population of Temora was 4,086.-History:...
and represented the Country Rugby League at a junior level. He is qualified as an electrician.
Rugby league career
McCrone started his professional career with the Canberra RaidersCanberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
but failed to break into the first-grade team in two seasons. He was signed by the Penrith Panthers
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
in 2007, following coach Matthew Elliott from Canberra to Penrith, before returning to Canberra at the end of the 2008 season without having appeared in the NRL. He moved to the Raiders in 2009, making his first NRL appearance in April, following which he fought Marc Herbert
Marc Herbert
Marc Herbert is a Rugby League player who is now unattached after being released by the Bradford Bulls at the end of the 2011 season. He made his NRL debut in the Round 20 clash vs. the Gold Coast Titans, in place of the suspended Todd Carney...
for a regular first-grade spot as Canberra's starting halfback. McCrone was dropped from the side at the beginning of the 2010 season, relegated to Canberra's feeder club Souths Logan. By the end of the 2010 season, he had returned as the Raiders' regular halfback, forming a combination with five-eighth Terry Campese
Terry Campese
Terry Campese is an Australian professional rugby league footballer, of Italian descent for the Canberra Raiders of the National Rugby League competition...
to marshal the team through a six-match winning streak, landing the Raiders in the finals before being knocked out by the Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
. McCrone is signed to the Raiders through to the end of the 2012 season.
In the 2011 season, Josh has so far scored 6 tries. His halves partner this season has almost always been 20 year old Round 1 1st grade debutant Sam Williams. McCrone was moved to five eighth this year, but he played at halfback last year. The reason was because Terry Campese got a serious knee injury, resulting in a knee reconstruction. Terry was their usual five eighth. He was out of football for about 9 months. As a result, the Raiders looked around for another half, which they found in Matt Orford. Matt went over to England after he left the Manly Sea Eagles. In round 1 against the Cronulla Sharks in Canberra, Matt was not physically well enough to play because of an injury. To see a story on that match, click here. They needed to call up Toyota Cup star Sam Williams, and he had an impressive 1st grade debut. Matt started playing in round 2 against the Broncos at Canberra Stadium. Williams was forced back to the Toyota Cup. Orford was anything but good for that match, and every other game he was in. He another injury that forced him out of round 6, and Canberra called up Williams again. He was again, a very impressive halfback for the Raiders. Orford was back into the team in round 8 to face the Wests Tigers, and again wasn't very good at all. Sam was back in round 11 to face the Canterbury Bulldogs. Sam has kept on playing since round 11, and scored 2 tries in round 16 against the Parramatta Eels. Sam just simply became Canberra's permanent halfback, no matter if Orford was injured or not. During that whole ordeal, McCrone was always in the squad at five eighth. McCrone and Williams have became great friends this season, and also one of the best halves combination the NRL.
Josh has shown that when he plays well, his team plays well. He has definitely made a point that he State of Origin worthy, so don't be surprised if he's in the NSW team next year.
External links
- http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/player?id=111277&name=josh-mccrone&team=55004
- Canberra Raiders profile
- http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/nrl-premiership/third-string-canberra-halves-josh-mccrone-and-sam-williams-set-for-big-test-against-the-roosters/story-fn2mcuj6-1226087045817
- http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/canberra-raiders-turn-to-josh-mccrone-and-sam-williams-in-late-push-for-finals-footy/story-e6frexnr-1226086699204
- http://www.nrl.com/telstrapremiership/playerstats/playerprofile/tabid/10898/clubid/2/playerid/756/seasonid/7/default.aspx
- http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/mccrone-not-chasing-the-limelight/2241958.aspx
- http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/mccrone-weighs-in-on-thurstons-ref-collision/2202738.aspx
- http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/raiders-move-to-lock-in-williams/2108717.aspx
- http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/dropping-mccrone-a-halfbaked-idea-daley/2116952.aspx
- http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/orfords-defence-keeps-out-williams/2129702.aspx
- http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/williams-eyeing-oxs-no-7-permanently/2166400.aspx
- http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/confident-campo-sees-hope-yet-for-raiders-to-make-top-eight/2170732.aspx
- http://www.nrl.com/mccrone-ready-to-rumble-with-orford/tabid/10874/newsid/61399/default.aspx