Cronk keeping mum on Storm future
By Ian McCullough, 1 Feb 2012
- Tagged:
- Cooper Cronk, Craig Bellamy, Melbourne Storm, NRL, Rugby League
Related coverage
Cooper Cronk is refusing to rule out a move away from Melbourne Storm when his contract expires at the end of the 2012 NRL season, with a bidding war almost certain to start for the Queensland star’s services.
Cronk is the highest profile name off-contract at the end of the 2012 campaign and has been linked with a number of clubs as well as a switch to rugby union.
Reports have claimed the 28-year-old is keen to take advantage of the new television deal set to be announced in the next few months, and set his sights set on a contract worth around $850,000 a year.
South Sydney are believed to be in pole position to sign Cronk because of his close relationship with Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire.
The pair worked together when Maguire was an assistant to Storm coach Craig Bellamy before joining Wigan in 2010.
The Rabbitohs have only rookies Adam Reynolds and Ryan Carr in their ranks to fill the No.7 shirt following Chris Sandow’s departure to Parramatta last year but are willing to wait for the right man to become available next year rather than rushing out to find a short-term replacement.
Cronk was visibly uncomfortable when quizzed about his future plans at the official launch of the NRL Indigenous All Stars game on the Gold Coast on Tuesday, deflecting questions about where he will ply his trade in 2013.
However, with the prospect of being the first-choice halfback for both Queensland and Australia, with Johnathan Thurston moving to five-eighth to replace the retiring Darren Lockyer, he admitted he wanted to remain in rugby league.
“I’ve got myself into a very good position to play some good football this year,” Cronk said.
“I’ve been working very hard for a long time to get where I am now and I’m not about to stop.
“I want to be a part of the big games in the future.”
“There is a lot of speculation around, and I understand that, but I am just working my backside off for the start of the season and focusing very much on the All Stars game.”
© AAP 2012Recommend this story.
The Turkey 10
The Turkey 10 teams have now been selected, as Wild Turkey Bourbon's sport sponsorship kicks into the next exciting phase.
Choose which side you're going to support and get in the running to win $2,500!
Simply visit Wild Turkey Australia on Facebook for your chance to win.
Find out more.
The Crowd Says (10) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
- Explore:
- Cooper Cronk, Craig Bellamy, Melbourne Storm, NRL, Rugby League
February 1st 2012 @ 11:40am
Jaceman said | February 1st 2012 @ 11:40am | Report comment
They will find a third party agreement with the casino to keep him there as they did with Cameron Smith (Fox) and Slater (Nine). It makes a complete mockery of the salary cap but hang on its Melbourne so its OK. Does anyone know of anyone writing a book on the Storm salary cap fiasco? It would be a best seller…
February 1st 2012 @ 12:33pm
Tb said | February 1st 2012 @ 12:33pm | Report comment
Cronk needs to be careful on two fronts. Sounding equivocal about staying in Melbourne will put him on Bellamy’s bad side very quickly. Second, he’s a fine player but tradesman-like and somewhat over rated, so in lesser company he could look ordinary. He’s part of the best spine in the game, but he’s the most replaceable part of it.
February 1st 2012 @ 4:48pm
LM said | February 1st 2012 @ 4:48pm | Report comment
Would have to disagree with you on that one, Cronk stepped up more than anyone to hold that team together over the last two seasons and guaranteed, if Storm lose him they will find out just how much of their other “superstars” relied on the smarts of this halfback. Overrated players are not praised by most (if not all) people in the league for their incredible work ethic as Cooper is, and no part of a spine is easy to replace. Will be interesting to see how this plays out, but career wise, if Cronk is the player I think he is, a move could actually prove to everyone how impressive a player he is in his own right rather than being stuck in the shadow of Smith and Slater.
February 1st 2012 @ 4:16pm
Crosscoder said | February 1st 2012 @ 4:16pm | Report comment
Jaceman.
My understanding is no 3rd party agreements can be made with a major current club sponsor.
There is no 3rd party agreement with Meriton for a Tigers player,or Jayco with a Doggies player,or Hisense last year with a Cronulla player or St George bank with a saints player.
Fox and 9 do not sponsor the NRL.nor the clubs.
Marshall appears on 9,as does Beau Ryan,as did Dell once then on Fox.Kimmorley was on Fox when he played for the Noah’s Arks.
Too much into conspiracy theories Jaceman,bet you liked the movie The 39 Steps.
Give the i.C about to get into place ,some grey matter for structural control of the code.
February 1st 2012 @ 5:47pm
Jaceman said | February 1st 2012 @ 5:47pm | Report comment
So how do other clubs feel when the 2 broadcast companies help keep Slater and Smith in Melbourne. Slater arguably the most exciting player in the game just re-signed with the Storm without any discussion of him going elsewhere – News were trying to sell the Storm at the time so very murky indeed – a Qld boy in cold Melbourne. He is in Suzuki ads so I guess he gets paid for that too.., And dont give me that crap that he loves the club etc…
February 1st 2012 @ 8:44pm
Crosscoder said | February 1st 2012 @ 8:44pm | Report comment
Other clubs have not made an issue of it,and just get on with it.
The clubs are now fully aware of the importance of the Storm in the total scheme of things,re national appearance and a niche into the country’s second biggest market.
In fact judging by the continual high ratings the Storm engender on pay Tv,I am sure the clubs are more than comfortable with the status quo.
News has been quite open about them being a media organisation not a sporting organisation.They have been quite transparent stating they want to be involved in one NRL club only ie the Broncos.
There was quite a deal of progress made re private ownership until the you know what hit the fan.
if you know the Slater story ,came down from Innisfail as a kid in a beaten up car,to try out for the Storm.Bellamy is like a father image to the guy.Slater’s wife is well ensconsed in melbourne.The fact he resigned with the Storm,therefore is no surprise.Gallen resigned with the Sharks for less than he could get elsewhere.There is some loyalty around believe it or not.
Cameron Smith is a Qld boy,the weather hardly a factor,maybe its the restaurant scene .Will Chambers is from the NT.Oh the cold.
More than a couple NRL players are in Lowes ad,Powerade.
Seeing you know more about the inner workings of the Storm and the NRL,Slater and Bellamy,in fact the Storm players and Bellamy ,obviously your last line is 100% correct,you told me so.I bow to your better judgement,that it is all one big stew please!!!
.
February 2nd 2012 @ 11:56am
Jaceman said | February 2nd 2012 @ 11:56am | Report comment
Re-signed rather resigned which means the opposite.
Chambers is a bit player who was excess at the Reds and Munster (theres cold) so he hardly has a choice where he plays whereas Slater could play anywhere incl the AFL. Slater gets $100K to appear on Nine 5 times a season.
Dont you find it bizarre that in the biggest scandal in RL for 100 years no-one was charged and only Waldron copped the oppobrium. To think the Board or the recruitment staff or coach didnt know something odd was going on when they could sign 9 internationals plus 2 SOO players in climate challenged Melbourne. The money supposedly going to junior development was going in players pockets. As if News didnt know – they didnt want to know. One assumes Waldron was paid to shut up so one cant wait till that fatwa is over for the entire truth to come out.
Slater is the only top player to come on the open market and there was no bidding war. Look at Cronks story now and he is handy but half the player Slater is. Dont you find it even slightly odd – he is talking about 850K a year. Whats Slater worth then. You can only make suppositionas about Slaters wife, Smiths love of Melbourne restaurants, Bellamys father image – all floss unless you are an insider…
February 2nd 2012 @ 12:52pm
Crosscoder said | February 2nd 2012 @ 12:52pm | Report comment
Like arguing with a revolving door.Either put up with your development accusations, or forever hold your peace.
So Gallen was not a top player LOL and Darius Boyd LOL .
I guess the fact that she is an artist ,has recently had a child ,the club is a family club and has lived there for some time has an effect.
That is why the likes of Hoffman,Chambers came back to Melbourne ,the Bellamy factor.
The restaurants comment was tongue in cheek FHS.Smith enjoys playing under Bellamy,as did Finch,Johnson,Jeremy Smith,Blair and chambers .They were squeezed out by the salary cap.
If you had been paying attention in class,you will note O’Sullivan’s name was mentioned in despatches.Waldron’s 2 IC got mention in despatches and left.
NB the club has been fined,they played 2010 for zilch,they lost two premierships,the players and club suffered public scorn,they had to offload players,they lost sponsors as a result..
It is now 2012,get over it or are you into capital punishment?.
Whatever finally comes out comes out.
February 1st 2012 @ 10:38pm
Meesta Cool said | February 1st 2012 @ 10:38pm | Report comment
A wise man, once said “Argue not with a clown, from a distance others may not spot the difference”. Jaceman is well known for trolling for Storm fans. best ignored… I say, Salary cap, — What Salary Cap!..
February 2nd 2012 @ 12:41pm
Crosscoder said | February 2nd 2012 @ 12:41pm | Report comment
Meesta Cool.you are spot on.Olympic class trolling, knows all about the ESL,NRL,French rl,Cronulla,in fact a walking encyclopedia.
Heaven help when News is out of the picture and the Storm club is privatised. Someone else will have to bear the brunt.