Reg Reagan can take credit for helping Melbourne reach another NRL grand final.
Yes, the great Reg.
More specifically, the Storm can thank him for getting their stocky No.7 back to his best.
No.7: Brodie Croft in action for the Storm in their preliminary final victory over the Sharks.
Brodie Croft will, next Sunday, wear the jersey not so long ago occupied by Cooper Cronk.
Croft started the year at halfback, was relegated to reserve grade, before reclaiming his spot in the top grade – and all thanks to some one-on-one tuition with Matthew Johns.
The larrikin who has given TV fans the likes of Reg Reagan is also regarded by many as one of the sharpest minds in the game.
For several years now, Andrew's loveable brother has thrown open the doors to his northern beaches home and worked with some of the game's best players.
Johns will identify players' strengths. He will take them to nearby Griffith Park, a good three-wood from picturesque Long Reef Golf Club, to work on the finer points of their game.
There have even been a couple of schooners knocked back at the local pub, Reg-style, if Johns feels the player is too wound up.
The catch-ups do wonders for the skill sets, but more importantly the player's head space.
Johns never accepts a dime from the clubs for his services because he does not want to be compromised when it comes to being critical of their games in his radio and TV commentary roles.
Seamless: Brodie Croft scores after a Billy Slater assist.
When it came to Croft, the baby-faced 21-year-old from the Queensland town of Highfields, on the outskirts of Toowoomba, his confidence was shot when he rocked up to Johns' house not long after he had been dropped in round five. The Storm were rolled by Wests Tigers for the second time in a season.
Croft had worked with Johns on several occasions in the past.
In 2016 Croft, Billy Slater and Cameron Munster were all sent north for a refresher.
Because he had relatives staying at his home, Johns suggested the trio bunker down at the nearby flashy Novotel in Manly. The players opted for the local Salvation Army Retreat.
Johns grabbed a bag of plastic training cones and forced Croft to focus on his strengths. Running has always been Croft's best asset. He forced him to make decisions while fatigued.
While not tall, Croft is solid through the hips and legs, and almost a physical carbon copy of Johns' Immortal brother.
Like so many sensitive young kids, Croft obsessed about football and as soon as his form dipped, the negative thoughts multiplied.
Johns quickly worked this out when he spotted Croft.
Croft has coach Craig Bellamy saved in his phone as ''Bellyache'' and knew he was in a spot of bother when his named flashed up after the Tigers loss.
"I saw it coming,'' Croft says. "I got a call one day before training; I was sitting at home and 'Bellyache' pops up on the phone.
"He's saved under Bellyache and every time he's called this year, whether I'm playing or not playing, I'm like, 'do I want to pick this up?'
"It was a tough phone call to hear. I could hear it in his voice as well – he was sad for me.
Pup: Brodie Croft with the Easts Tigers.
"But in all honesty, it was the decision he had to make. He told me I needed to get back to playing percentages, not over-playing my hand and doing my job for the team.
"That's when I went to Matty's house. I stayed with him and is wife, Trish, and had some good feeds and talked footy.
"We did some one-on-one training. His insight and knowledge of rugby league is incredible. It's just how he breaks the game down.
"I'd worked with him before, but this time I was really able to channel my focus.
"I didn't know what to expect when I first met him. I'd only seen the absolute larrikin on TV.
"But the only other person I'd put up there with his knowledge is Cooper Cronk, and he learned under Matty.''
Croft spent two years as Cronk's apprentice before he joined the Roosters. He's still on less than $300,000 a season, which is less than a third of what Cronk now collects for being a Bondi boy.
There were mixed emotions on Saturday night when Croft plonked himself in front of the box to see if Cronk would line up opposite him at ANZ Stadium in the decider.
It was about four years ago Cronk returned from a clinic in Queensland and told Storm boss Dave Donaghy, "I think I've found my replacement.''
"Unfairly for Brodie, he gets compared a lot of the time to Cooper,'' Donaghy says.
"They're both from Queensland, they look similar, they're both professional in their approach. But for us as a club, we don't want another Cooper Cronk, we want Brodie to be Brodie Croft. He's got a great running game. He's settled into Melbourne well and enjoyed the lifestyle.
"He's worked really hard on his game.''
Ryley Jacks and Jahrome Hughes had cracks at halfback while Croft plied his trade for Easts Tigers in the Queensland Cup.
But since then Croft has learnt to have fun again. He remembered rugby league was enjoyable.
Familiar combination: Billy Slater runs a support line for Brodie Croft.
The past two matches alone Croft has been impossible to miss with his smile on the field. The grand final will be his 12th match this season.
His play right on half-time against Souths in week one of the finals was vital. He stepped past Sam Burgess and then managed to put through a lovely weighed kick for Suliasi Vunivalu to score while running at full speed.
On Friday night, he pushed up in support of Slater and did well to step inside Chad Townsend to score the Storm's opening try. He then held back a pass for Slater to score the first of his two tries.
Croft stated the obvious when he stressed the importance of Slater lining up in what will double as his farewell game, provided he can beat a shoulder charge at the judiciary.
"He'll go down as an immortal and to be able to play with him, he makes me look good and a better player, and makes everyone else in the team a better player through his talk and actions,'' Croft says.
"If you had asked me two months ago if I'd be playing in an NRL grand final, I'd tell you you were joking.
"It's been a long year, but I'm stoked to be here.
"It's certainly been tough. Personally I knew what I was capable of. That was the most frustrating thing.''
Highfields has a population of about 5000. They are all supporting Croft.
Croft wants to make the No.7 his own for years to come. He is eternally grateful for Cronk's tips and hints and continual compliments.
"I walked in his footsteps day in, day out for two years and he was my childhood hero,'' Croft says.
"I learned so much just watching him and hearing him talk. He was great for me.''
So was Reg.
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