Melbourne halfback Brodie Croft is happy to be old news this NRL season.
After being in the glaring spotlight last season as Cooper Cronk's replacement, Croft said he's enjoying a low-key start this year.
That lack of pressure and his growing maturity is evident on the field with the 21-year-old playing a key role in the Storm's unbeaten start.
"That's real nice - I can just worry about playing my football and doing my job for the team and I'm really enjoying that," Croft said about the attention shifting from him.
"Personally I've been happy been getting my job done for the team like I did at the back end of last year.
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"I've been keeping it simple, not trying to overplay my hand, and if opportunities comes to then taking it with both hands."
After securing the No.7 jersey for Melbourne's finals campaign last year, Croft said he felt more confident and was "finding his voice".
His game management has gone to a new level while his kicking game is more effective on the back of "a thousand kicks in the pre-season".
"I have more confidence with my position in the team so now it's about backing myself and executing on the back of that."
While he's been keeping his head down, he's still been noticing the performance of other halfbacks including his next opponent, Panthers playmaker Nathan Cleary.
Despite the pair being the same age Croft said he'd never played against Cleary but was an admirer of his game, even trying to add some attributes of the NSW star to his own repertoire.
"He's a really strong-minded player," Croft said of Cleary, who he will square off against when Melbourne play Penrith in Bathurst on Saturday.
"I've definitely taken a few things out of his game that I can implement into my own game.
"He does it week in, week out - he's a really consistent player - so I'm looking forward to the challenge of versing him."
