Cooper Cronk’s future, without doubt, is the hub of rugby league conversation in this post NRL season.
Will the 34-year-old play on for another club or will he hang up his boots and sign a long-term contract with Fox as a presenter, just like his fiancee Tara Rushton? – the reason for leaving the Storm to live in Sydney.
My advice to the super talented Cronk is grab the Fox offer as rugby league’s clear leader in television coverage with a dedicated channel.
Cronk has already proved to be an exceptional presenter during his recent trial appearances.
But if that option doesn’t appeal at the moment, and he’s keen to keep playing in the NRL, and for Queensland and Australia, it’s long overdue to make that decision because careers in potential clubs can dramatically affect current players.
If he’s toying with the Roosters. Mitchell Pearce would have to move on.
If it’s Penrith, Nathan Cleary, who must be the NSW Origin halfback next season, may be forced to join his father at Wests Tigers, where the pairing of Cleary and new recruit Josh Reynolds would be dynamic.
If it’s Newcastle with plenty of salary cap available, Cronk would be a superb addition.
But there’s one major drawback to Penrith and Newcastle – the travel.
There’s no point in Cronk basing himself near either club or that would defeat the purpose of being with his fiancee, the only reason why he left the Storm.
Souths, Cronulla, the Bulldogs, and West-Tigers have also been mentioned as Cronk possibilities, but only the Tigers would have room in their salary cap.
And the possible pairing of Cronk and Reynolds would give the Tigers firepower after losing Mitchell Moses to Parramatta, James Tedesco to the Roosters, and Aaron Woods to the Bulldogs.
So the more you look into the Cronk possibilities, the only safe and secure for the long term is the road to the Fox Sports studios at St Leonards.
He’d feel right at home with Yvonne Sampson, Matty Johns, Michael Ennis, Corey Parker, Mark Gasnier, Blocker Roach, Brandy Alexander, Billy Moore, Mal Meninga, Justin Hodges, Kevin Walters, Benny Elias, Tony ‘Spud’ Carroll, Danny Buderus, Gorden Tallis, Ben Ikin, and Sampson’s offsiders Lara Pitt, Jess Yates, and Hannah Hollis.
Plus the rugby league journos in Buzz Rothfield, Paul Kent, James Hooper, Crash Craddock, Paul Crawley, and Andrew Webster.
That’s an unbeatable team on a dedicated channel – wall to wall rugby league.
I’ll miss the talent of Peter Sterling’s On the Couch, who has now signed full time with Channel Nine.
In short, just substitute one champion halfback for another – such are the vagaries of the media business.
Gus O
Guest
$700,000 for 2018 season... plus a guaranteed post-retirement assistant coaching role at the club on a lucrative salary package... that also provides flexible hours to allow him to take on a role as FOX media comentator. Or something like that.
Gus O
Guest
You kight have missed my actual point. Negotiations with any genuinely interested clubs will be happening directly between his manager and the small number of Sydney clubs who could find a way to fit him into their cap. We dont know what confidential negotiations are going on, or what sort of deal might be structured (eg. post retirement role, third party transfers). But these are the deals that agents and clubs do regularly. My point was that he has no obligation to advise the media until he is ready. It has no impact on the playing roster of media companies, and the only people you hear complaining about not knowing are commentators. Boo hoo.
Bunney
Roar Rookie
Wow - that's saying something!
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Seconded. Worse than Hadley, Wally and Vautin combined
Edward Kelly
Roar Guru
Add Blocker to the "do not return in 2018" list, please Foxsports.
Birdy
Guest
And I suppose the chookies will throw in a $1,5m 1 year contract. And Cooper goes to contacts on his smart phone, " now let me see, What was her name again? Under "C" or was it "T" or maybe "S". Yep S sounds right, now what was I going to ask her?
uglykiwi
Roar Pro
2018: Win premiership with Roosters.
Birdy
Guest
If you could plan your own swan song , it would have to go like this. # Win SOO after game 1 trouncing # win GF # wear the green and gold of Australia and win the world cup. # retire as a 1 club player. # surrender to true love. Nothing else could possibly make sence.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Sure he has no obligations to any Sydney team. But in the way of good will these teams would’ve liked to have had their rosters sorted 6months ago and it would be good of him to share his intentions so everyone can move on and get ready for 2018
Paul
Guest
No idea what Cronk is going to do but I don'tt agree at all with your logic. There's a big difference between announcing your retirement in the years before the World Cup and doing it in the year of the World Cup. Meninga didn't pick Gallen or Parker so younger players would have international experience now. Gal is still good enough but he had had enough of rep footy. After the tournament there is plenty of time to blood in new players ahead of the next one. But now on the verge of the World Cup, you pick your best team, end of story. Cronk is definitely part of the best team, he's even more important without Thurston. No way Mal would have dropped him if he'd confirmed his intention to retire.
Gus O
Guest
I hope he plays on. He is my fav player, and his value in building and maintaining work ethic amongst a team and mentoring young players coming through is priceless. One or more seasons at a club with young halves or a young spine would be invaluable. He has no obligation to let the media in on any negotiations he may be having with clubs in Sydney. It is hilarious that anyone in the media thinks they can make any demands in time frame for an announcement. We will find out when we find out. Deal with it.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Cooper does like doing the LeBron James Descion thing a bit too much. I remember last contract he made a big song and dance, held a press conference only to announced he was staying at Melbourne
peeeko
Guest
He’d feel right at home with Yvonne Sampson, Matty Johns, Michael Ennis, Corey Parker, Mark Gasnier, Blocker Roach, Brandy Alexander, Billy Moore, Mal Meninga, Justin Hodges, Kevin Walters, Benny Elias, Tony ‘Spud’ Carroll, Danny Buderus, Gorden Tallis, Ben Ikin, and Sampson’s offsiders Lara Pitt, Jess Yates, and Hannah Hollis. Plus the rugby league journos in Buzz Rothfield, Paul Kent, James Hooper, Crash Craddock, Paul Crawley, and Andrew Webster. please get rid of Rothfield and Hodges and that pathetic Qlders only program
Alex L
Roar Rookie
I bet a whole lot of Queenslanders would really like for Cleary to run out in the sky blue next year... practically giving them the trophy for another generation, he's nowhere near ready.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Or not at all 100% ?
Nick
Roar Guru
The Dragons - or any team - would be able to entice all those players if there wasn't a salary cap. It would come down to which club has the deepest pockets (or access to the deepest pockets). As a Dragons fan, I don't give a toss about up and coming players. We don't have a coach who can cultivate talent. He needs a guaranteed premiership winning line up. But, I do agree - I think Cronk will retire too.
Thunder Struck
Guest
Coops will be retiring -wants to announce it either before/during or at the end of RLWC- 100% info
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Cooper Cronk doesn't have to make a decision today, tomorrow or in the next month, he has all the time in the world to decide on what is best for his future. He is currently in the middle of World Cup preparations. Penrith won't let go of Nathan Cleary, he's already signed on until 2019 and is their plan for the future. Why would they let go of a future international to accommodate a veteran with only a few years left in him. No disrespect to Cronk but I think Gus would rather have a quality half for the next ten years than a quality half for the next two years. Should Cleary he leave (which he won't), he definitely wouldn't go to the Wests Tigers. They already have Brooks, Reynolds, Lolohea, Marshall and Gamble in the halves. Cronk's most likely destination should he continue to play is either Cronulla or Easts but I can't see him returning. Cooper Cronk shouldn't have to 'come clean'. Give him time to make the right decision.
jamesb
Guest
The players you listed, none of those are young up and coming players. They are all established superstars. While with Cleary, he is not there yet. And the Dragons would never entice those sort of players anyway. As a fan of the club, I wish they could. Anyway, I reckon Cronk will retire.
Dean
Guest
Maybe he's not doing any of that. Maybe he's got a position waiting for him that's got nothing to do with Rugby League. Not every ex player wants to be on Fox or Nine. Some of them actually do have interests outside of rugby league. Who knows, he just might be opening his own pie shop.