After missing two field goal attempts in their loss to the Sydney Roosters, Melbourne halfback Brodie Croft didn’t want to strike out again against the Warriors.

He made no mistake in their Anzac Day match at AAMI Park, kicking the match-winner in the 77th minute to secure a 13-12 win.

But his dedication almost proved his undoing with the 21-year-old injuring his groin while practising in the lead-up to the game.

It meant that Croft was unable to take the Storm’s place kicks and the job fell to Cameron Munster, with first choice Cameron Smith already passing it on because of a lingering adductor strain.

But Croft said while there was still some pain in his injury, he had enough power for the drop goal.

“I pulled up a bit ginger after training and we didn’t really know until warm-up how it was going to respond with running so it was precautionary with no goal kicks,” Croft said.

“I was lucky to get the field goal over I guess.”

It was far from a sweet strike, hitting the upright on its way over but did enough to get the game-breaking point.

“It was hooking a bit and I was getting a bit nervous and I was thinking, ‘hold your line’ and fortunately it did and the woodwork was in our favour,” Croft said.

He said it was a relief to get the match-winner after his misses in Melbourne’s golden point loss to the Roosters last round at the same venue.

“It was definitely important to get the monkey off my back and it’s always good to get a match-winner,” he said.

“My practice has paid off.”