Michael Crocker

Michael "Croc" Crocker (born 21 June 1980) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative forward, he played his club football in the National Rugby League for the Sydney Roosters, Melbourne Storm and the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Crocker played in 5 Grand Finals during his career, including three consecutive Grand Final appearances between 2002 and 2004, including one victory in 2002.

Crocker was born in Auburn, New South Wales, Australia on 21 June 1980.

Having played in the Queensland Cup for the Redcliffe Dolphins, Crocker moved south to make his NRL debut in 2001 for the Sydney Roosters, one of Australia's oldest clubs, and in doing so became the 1,000th footballer to play for them.

Crocker played for the Roosters from the interchange bench in their 2002 NRL Grand final victory over the New Zealand Warriors. Having won the 2002 NRL Premiership, the Roosters travelled to England to play the 2003 World Club Challenge against Super League champions, St Helens R.F.C. Crocker played at hooker in the Roosters’ victorious win over St Helens.

Crocker made his State of Origin debut for the Maroons while playing with the 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 2003 State of Origin series. At the end of that season, Crocker played in the 2003 NRL grand final which the Roosters lost to the Penrith Panthers. He was selected to go on the 2003 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France, becoming the 714th player to represent his country in the green and gold, contributing to Australia's victory over Great Britain in what would be the last time the two nations contested an Ashes series.

Crocker played for the Roosters at second-row forward in their 2004 NRL Grand Final loss against cross-Sydney rivals, the Canterbury-Bankstown 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.

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

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 Storm's loss to Manly in the 2008 NRL Grand Final.