The last time Josh McCrone spent six NRL games alongside the same halves partner, it was 2014 and he was playing in Canberra.
Three years later, and after stints in and out of reserve grade, he is finally enjoying the same stability alongside St George Illawarra five-eighth Gareth Widdop.
McCrone is enjoying something of a mid-career renaissance in 2017, starring for St George Illawarra in their 35-10 flogging of Manly on Saturday at Lottoland.
McCrone set up four tries, while Widdop finished with 19 points as the pair continued to rejuvenate the Dragons' much-maligned attack.
"The combination they're building is quite strong," coach Paul McGregor said.
"It was something that myself and Gaz spoke about pre-season.
"Gaz felt very comfortable with Josh and you can see in the way they're playing, they enjoy playing with each other."
A late call-up to replace the injured Drew Hutchinson at the start of the season, McCrone has found a home next to Tyson Frizell and Euan Aitken on the right edge.
"I think that's something this club under-estimated a bit last year too - to give time to build combinations," McCrone said.
"I've had five-six weeks with Friz and Euan. That stuff takes time to build. You don't just jump in automatically and know what they're doing.
"They're starting to find out how I play and I'm starting to find out how I play, so I think it's massive to build those combinations."
Widdop and McCrone are both off-contract at the end of the season.
The pair are the two of the quieter pieces in the competition-wide halves jigsaw puzzle, but fill an interesting role given Ben Hunt is already on his way to the joint-venture next season.
Talks have reportedly began between the Dragons and Widdop, while the Wests Tigers on Saturday confirmed the England international could become a target.
But 29-year-old McCrone is happy to let his football do the talking after two frustrating years in the nation's capital.
"Fortunately enough or unfortunately enough I've been around long enough to see this merry-go-round go around a few times," he said.
"It's about worrying about having a happy life at home and putting the performances on there and everything else will sort itself out."
Share
