Melbourne Storm star Cooper Cronk has decided on where he will play in 2018, accepting a contract offer from the Sydney Roosters.
Journalist Danny Weidler broke the news on Monday morning, reporting that Cronk has accepted a two-year deal to join the Roosters, and it was formally announced by the club in the afternoon.
“The Sydney Roosters are a proud club with an esteemed history, and this is an exciting new opportunity for me, said Cronk.
“It marks the start of a new chapter for me both professionally and personally and I look forward to joining my new teammates and coaches, and immersing myself in the club’s culture in lead-up to the 2018 season.”
The news means Cronk will extend his career at a new club after a long and successful time playing with the Storm, including winning this year’s premiership.
Cronk confirmed earlier this year that he would move to Sydney in 2018 to be closer to his fiance, but it was not clear at the time whether or not he intended to join a new NRL club.
Now however his destiny lies with the Roosters, who will hope he can take them a few steps further than the preliminary final exit their season ended in this year.
It’s unclear at the moment what this news might mean however for Mitchell Pearce, who will be heavily impacted by Cronk’s arrival the club.
Pearce has been linked to both the Manly Sea Eagles and the Newcastle Knights if he decided to leave the Roosters because of the Cronk contract.
Roosters co-captain Boyd Cordner has said that he hopes a way can be found to balance the side with both Pearce and Cronk.
“If it does happen and there can be a way to have all three halves (including five eighth Luke Keary) playing in the same team, I think if you can make it work, then what a force,” said Cordner.
However others believe there’s no way to make it fit. Paul Gallen recently said as much.
“I think if Cooper Cronk does sign with the Roosters, I don’t think Mitchell Pearce can stay,” Gallen said.
“I don’t think the positions of Pearce, (five-eighth Luke) Keary and Cronk fit in together.
“I don’t think you can turn Pearce, who has been a halfback his whole life, into a bench player.”
Mark Ferguson
Guest
Pearce having to play out of position is no loss.
matth
Guest
They play the same specialist position, so if Cronk plays Pearce, who is the current NSW halfback, has to play out of position. If Cronk had been from NSW Pearce would likely not have been picked for NSW.
matth
Guest
I'm pretty sure Newcastle would throw all those players under the bus to get the 28 year old current NSW halfback, without a second thought.
matth
Guest
So are you suggesting that we have to make the club move to a poorer area?
Soda
Guest
I've had it up to here with your so-called "rules" when do we get the Freakin guns?
Bup
Guest
Eastern suburbs consists of Vaucluse, Point Piper, Rose Bay, Darling Point,Dover Heights , Woolahra, Edgecliff,Wooloomooloo,Watson Bay,Potts Point,Rushcutters Bay,I could go on but surely these suburbs of affluence and influence make my point about location, political and corporate support speak for themselves. There's more money in this part of Australia then the rest of the country combinedand you wonder why the Roosters have an advantage over the rest of the Sydney sides. Give me a break.
Craig
Guest
Cronk is a good footballer but at club level he’s no better than Pearce, Pearce has actually performed very well for the chooks. If they want someone to change the culture, fair enough, but I can’t see cronk guiding a team to a premiership, he hasn’t done so before - smith and others really held the reigns whilst he was just there to do a job. He did that job pretty well, but he’s not someone who is going to be a game breaker every weak. The roosters albeit a bit up and down, still finished up the pointy end of the ladder.
celtic bandaid
Guest
Yep there membership will spike at nearly 5,000 Their ratings will improve by 10,000 You obviously don't live in Sydney The Rorters are as endearing as GWS but have a slightly smaller budget
Renegade
Roar Guru
Hahahaha are you wearing one now?
db
Guest
I accept that the players I listed do add up to less than the approxiamte 2 million a season for Tedesco and Cronk. I was thinking more about how little they seemed to fight to keep a couple promising young halves.
Al
Guest
Yes, cause Tedesco is playing for paper bags... I forgot... seriously. The system is a joke... the rich get richer....
Beny Iniesta
Guest
TRAITOR.
Tim Gore
Expert
1. Bollocks Chrispy. Total, utter bollocks 2. I've told you before, you don't get a gun until you tell us your name 3. This isn't linking Cronk with the Roosters, it is announcing it. 4. $2 mill for a two year deal. Incumbent Aus, QLD and premiership half. That's news right there if ever I've seen it. What do you think we should be writing about instead? 5. Your assertation is Total and complete bollocks. Call my integrity into question all you like but Josh Elliott just loves sport and loves writing about it. I also reckon he's a gun. No one has given him an agenda on this. 6. Really. We're owned by 10/CBS now?!? Excellent.
Steve
Guest
The only ones out of that lot on decent coin would have been Nikorima and Guerra........the rest would be barely on minimum wage. And if you take into account they had to significantly upgrade players like Keary and Napa as well as a few others? Well the numbers just don't add up. The Roosters get a saloon passage where the salary cap is concerned....its been going on for years. And they will get away with it as well because Uncle Nick's influence is all pervasive. No one in the media has the balls to say a thing.
KingKongBundy
Guest
Two questions I'm no expert in leauge so can someone explain to me why these two blokes cant play in the same team?and if Cronk was a new south welshman would pearce not get a game for NSW?
Wayne Turner
Guest
Ha,ha,ha,ha.... Too old in football terms.Will be a dud signing.He's passed it already.
Big Daddy
Guest
It's weidler's fault all of it. He sucks the life out of every media release. Then again it could be Karl's.
Jake
Guest
Yeah exactly the same mould; only 4+ inches & 15+ kgs. Do you watch footy champ?
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
Yep...another Cronk story. The sixth in four weeks linking Cronk with the Roosters. Why? Josh, Is it because your owners tell you what you should write.... (Channel10/CBS)? Enough mate. The Eastern suburbs are privileged enough. Let it go 'bro'!
andrew
Guest
If this were the NFL, Brooks traded to Newcastle, Pearce to the Tigers with the Roosters picking up the difference financially in order for all 3 to stay under the cap. ...but we can't trade players...