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Roosters coach Trent Robinson faces two major decisions in the lead up to the 2018 NRL competition.
He can make the first as early as this week by naming new recruit Cooper Cronk as captain.
But he’ll have to wait on the second until long-term halfback Mitchell Pearce, currently in Hawaii on holidays, decides if he’ll continue as a Rooster now Cronk has been signed.
The first is the more vital.
Boyd Cordner and Jake Friend have been co-captains, and while I can never agree with co-captains, especially as both are forwards, Robinson rarely makes a mistake.
But if the Roosters are going to be a genuine premiership contender next season, Cronk is the man to show the way.
The Storm will again be the team to beat.
They are not only the best team, but they are coached by the best in the business Craig Bellamy, and undeniably have the best culture honed over the years by Bellamy.
But without Cronk, will the team and the culture be as successful, or as dynamic?
And with Cronk a Rooster, the Bondi Junction side will obviously be stronger, and because Cronk has 17 years of Storm culture as an integral part of his DNA, the Roosters will be a better unit.
Robinson will see to that.
(AAP Image/Paul Miller)
He’s come a long way since becoming the eighth coach to win the rugby league premiership in his first year – it’s an elite group.
Balmain’s Tom McMahon was the first in 1952, followed by Norm Provan (1962) and Ian Walsh (1966) during the Dragons record-breaking 11-year dominance.
Leo Nosworthy handed Balmain another premiership in 1969. Phil Gould for Canterbury-Bankstown in 1988, Michael Hagan for Newcastle in 2001, and Ricky Stuart for the Roosters in 2002.
Robinson at 35 was the youngest to join the group in 2013, and also the youngest to win the Dally M Coach of the Year.
He coached the Roosters to the minor premiership in his first three years, and only once in his five years has he failed to at least reach the premiership final.
And he’s achieved all that without the calibre of a Cooper Cronk, one of the greatest halfbacks in the history of the game.
Having watched or covered rugby league for over 60 years, I rate Cronk number two behind Johnathan Thurston, and ahead of Peter Sterling, and Allan Langer, with not much between Andrew Johns, Steve Mortimer, and Ricky Stuart.
And you only have to see Cronk in action for either the Storm, Queensland, or the Kangaroos to know he’s a born leader – even though Cameron Smith is the captain of all three.
Cronk would never make the decisions like Boyd Cordner did in this year’s Origin series.
(AAP Image/Craig Golding)
Leading NSW for the first time, he was a standout in Origin 1 at Suncorp, Queenland’s fortress, with a 28-4 victory.
NSW led 16-6 at ANZ Stadium, just 40 minutes away from a series success, only the second in 12 years.
Having scored 44 points to just 10 in the first 120 minutes of the series, and in complete control, Cordner took the negative path to protect the lead instead the positive approach of increasing it to pay the ultimate penalty.
Queensland scored 12-nil in the second half at ANZ to win 18-16, and ran way with Origin 3 back at Suncorp 22-6.
Cordner’s negativity not only cost NSW the series, but Laurie Daley his job as NSW coach.
That’s one very good reason why Cronk should take over the Roosters captaincy. His ability and his communication skills complete the picture.
As for Mitchell Pearce, Robinson, Cronk, and Cordner have all spoken to him and want him to stay.
But nobody has come up with where they believe Pearce fits in.
As it sits, there’s Cronk, Luke Keary, and Pearce for two pivot spots, unless Pearce takes over Jake Friend’s hooking role.
While it’s important to the club Pearce stays, nothing is more important than Trent Robinson appointing Cooper Cronk captain.