As the rugby league rumour mill continues to churn out throughout the off season, fans and experts are still waiting on Cooper Cronk’s decision regarding what he will do with his future.
Will he have a fairytale retirement with a premiership and World Cup glory? Or will he have a LeBron James ‘decision’ announcement and take his talents to a Sydney club?
For the past week, Cronk has been said to be heading to the Tigers, Bulldogs and even the Sydney Roosters.
Wests Tigers’ massive recruitment drive and Josh Reynolds’ huge salary seem to take them out of the race, while newly appointed Canterbuy-Bansktown coach Dean Pay recently said he was “not really” interested in Cronk – a big decision from an untested first-grade coach!
That leaves the Sydney Roosters as the most financially stable and promising club to lure Cronk away for his final years, given reports the Tricolours have nearly $800,000 left in the salary cap.
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However, as an avid and devoted Roosters supporter, I say, “Cooper, don’t come.”
Cronk is one of the best halves of the modern era and deserves to be regarded as one of the greats of the game. But I don’t think Trent Robinson needs him.
Some will say the Roosters failed to put in an 80-minute performance this year, and Cronk’s professionalism and experience will help that, but is it really worth paying someone the better part of $1 million for one year?
Luke Keary was one of the buys of last season, having statistically his best year yet. He scored the most tries in a season so far in his career, with eight, and led the competition for line break assists (31) and line breaks as a half (15), while coming second for try assists (24).
The gap left by James Maloney at the end of 2015 was filled just fine by Keary, and his combination with Mitchell Pearce will only get better over time.
But that is what they need. Time.
The addition of the RLPA’s Player of the Year, James Tedesco, will only strengthen the team’s attack and all-round game, and should almost catapult them into premiership favouritism for 2018.
The signing of Cooper Cronk would be tremendous for any club, on and off the field, with his professionalism, skill and competitiveness second to none.
But the Roosters don’t need him.
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
Keary did play a big part with Souths winning in 2014, you know! Well, at least the last 8 weeks. I would have Keary over that CHOKER Woof-Woof Pearce any day!
Billy Blog
Guest
the cap has increased though so having 800k left is not out of the question 2018 Gains: James Tedesco (Wests Tigers, 2021) 2018 Losses: Paul Carter (released), Kane Evans (Parramatta Eels), Aidan Guerra (Newcastle Knights), Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Newcastle Knights), Liam Knight (Canberra Raiders), Connor Watson (Newcastle Knights) Re-Signed: Mitch Cornish (2018), Blake Ferguson (2018), Michael Gordon (2018), Ryan Matterson (2019), Dylan Napa (2019), Mitchell Pearce (2019), Victor Radley (2019), Chris Smith (2018), Daniel Tupou (2021), Sitili Tupouniua (2019) Off Contract 2017: Brenden Santi, Johnny Tuivasa-Sheck
Fox Lvy
Guest
This article is very much like me figuring out where to position my furnatures in the house with no money to buy them. Talking about combination, shifting players from one position to another and Coper Cronk from one club to other clubs. And the end of the day, it is Cronk own decision whether he wants to continue or not that his own choice to make.
big daddy
Guest
Seeing SKD, Evans and Connor and also the other Nikoroma have moved on they probably have a bit left in the kitty. A lot of their signings are second tier players so there is room for money to be spent. Also when pierce plays SOO next year they have to have some one to play half back.They also offloaded Copley early on.
Albo
Guest
Spot on Squid ! A great player , but I am not looking forward to his clichéd prognostications on Foxtel next year ! He's now just milking the publicity for all its worth like the perfect marketing troll, to ensure his next lucrative career in the game.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I think Kelvin's right. I really rate Gordon but I think Tedesco will go to the next level with the Roosters. How many times this year did the Tigers run sideways and just shovel the ball to Tedesco in the hope that he would do something. It was their go to play. He typically got the ball moving sideways and with his inside men not having drawn a single opponent, surrounded by defenders. Good luck. I think he'll do well running off Pearce and Keary. Off Cronk, he'll kill it.
Albo
Guest
But he would probably have an extra $1m in the bank that he doesn't have today ! And they say he likes a quid ? But I suspect he has already retired from the NRL but just won't announce it till after the World Cup. After all, this ongoing speculation and media attention can't hurt his next career ventures as planned or yet to be finalised, whether at Foxtel or via other media contracts ? Trolling at its best !
The Barry
Roar Guru
Agreed Tony. I think you could potentially play him off the bench in that role but it would take an exceptionally brave coach to start with two legitimate middle third players. The Roosters have Liu - who was really good this year and SST - who had an injury interrupted 2017 to start in the 13.
BleakCity
Roar Rookie
given reports the Tricolours have nearly $800,000 left in the salary cap... The salary cap really is the elephant in the room that no one wants to touch (unless a club is dobbed in by those sacked). Same half dozen clubs who make the finals nearly every single year because their total player budgets, legal or otherwise, are ridiculously bigger than others. What happened to the investigation into player managers? Every major cap saga we wait for this and yet not one has been de-registered in all these years. Too many skeletons & NRL too scared to address so we all just play this imaginary game that everything is sweet.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
I wouldn't be surprised to see Gordon on the wing Joe . His goal kicking won the Roosters quite a few games this year and Tupou looked pretty clumsy on quite a few occasions. He'd be my choice.
RandyM
Guest
Cronk is easily my favourite Storm player and favourite of the big 3. Would hate to see him play for the Roosters. He should pick a struggling club like the Knights, Tigers, Titans (not the Dogs or Rabittohs either)
Joe
Roar Rookie
I think you're underestimating Gordon. He was the Eels starting fullback and was one of the standouts of their season before moving to Roosters and before that he was the starting fullback at the Sharks. He is a very good player and I think he will be wasted at the Roosters with Teddy there. 34 years doesn't mean much this days as Billy Slater has proved. Gordon is one of those players that is very professional in everything he does and I wasn't surprised he fit right in at the Roosters as he has done with the other clubs he joined.
Pickett
Guest
Origin has traumatized Mitch. He's damaged goods now.
Bonza
Guest
Living in Bondi? That would be a win/lose.
Kelvin Johnson
Roar Rookie
You will find its the other way around Tedesco will shine at a a top 4 club. He wont have to look for line breaks because he won't be playing with a bunch of reserve graders at Wests Tigers. Poor guy will probably get bored not having to do everything and with the ball just given to him as he hits a hole. If Roosters can make 34 year old Gordan look good then 24 year old Tedesco will be the Dally M player of the year next year.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
I wouldn't say terrible, as much as , one dimensional.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Harsh , but true.
Kelvin Johnson
Roar Rookie
Pascoe decided to pay Reynolds more money than what Moses was offered. Reynolds never wanted to leave Canterbury but when you get offered twice what you are worth what can you do. Just like Anasta when he came over from Roosters and found out what an incompetent and badly run club Wests Tigers is, Reynolds will be in the same boat, I guarantee he wont see out his 4 years.
Hopeless Knight
Guest
Pearce is a dud when it comes to big games. You are one decent halfback away with a good kicking game from winnig the premiership. Pearces kicking game is terrible at best...
Brian George
Guest
Well stupid is as stupid does my mom's always said...