This year’s NRL premiership is likely to come down to two men, who will both be wearing the number 7 jersey, and looking to make an impact on teams that did very well without them last year.
Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston have been the two dominant halfbacks of the decade, and their influence on their respective teams may well decide this year’s premiers.
Both are effectively new additions to their clubs, with Cronk leaving Melbourne for the Roosters, and Thurston returning from injury to a team that made the grand final without him.
So who has the biggest impact?
Cronk’s move has been the most talked about player transfer in recent memory, with most pundits believing he would pull up stumps after taking home the silverware in 2017. The competitive fire has not gone out, however, and he joins the tri-colours in a move which forced club stalwart Mitchell Pearce to head up the coast to Newcastle.
After a top-two finish in 2017, Trent Robinson will be desperately hoping that Cronk can provide the polish that Pearce couldn’t, and turn an excellent regular season team into a legitimate title threat.
Of course, whether Cronk can fit seamlessly into a new structure, after being in the Melbourne system for his entire career, remains to be seen. Punters are backing him though, with the Roosters coming into premiership favouritism on the back of his signing. It’s hard to argue with their logic, as the Roosters look a decidedly better team with Cronk steering the ship.
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It seems odd to consider Thurston an addition to the Cowboys team, but after missing the back half of the 2017 with a shoulder injury, that’s exactly what he will be.
What will be most pleasing for Paul Green is how well his team lifted without their superstar halfback. Granted, they probably shouldn’t have even made the finals, but once there, Michael Morgan and Jason Taumalolo took their games to a new level, and their teammates followed.
If Green can help them maintain this form in 2018, then throw Thurston, Matt Scott and Jordan McLean on top, he will be confident he can go one better than last year.
The big question for Green, though, is whether Morgan can still be the dominant player he was in the finals with Thurston back in the team. The coach needs to find a way to let both play to their strengths.
There are too many question marks over the other contenders. Can Melbourne compete at the same level without Cronk? Can the Broncos win without a recognised seven? Is it too early for Penrith, and too late for the Sharks? Is Josh Hodgson too important for the Raiders? What influence will Jarryd Hayne have on the Eels?
Injuries always play their part, but the Roosters and Cowboys seem best placed at this stage. Which of the champion halfbacks can take everything their team achieved last year, and add the cherry on top?
For mine, it’s Thurston. His will be the smoother transition, with the more immediate result. Cronk will take some time to adjust, and 2019 may more likely be his year. It will be fascinating to watch.
Fraser
Guest
Since 1993, no Melbourne Cup international runner having their first start had won the race. That statistic held until 2017, when Rekindling tore that record to shreds. There's no reason Melbourne Storm can't do the same. They also have a massive advantage over past premiership winners in that they will be hosting the World Club Challenge, instead of the draining trip to the UK just prior to the start of the NRL season. Storm to go back to back. Roosters runners up.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Fortune favours the brave BA , put ya house on em ya mug.
BA Sports
Guest
As has been said, write off a champion at your own peril. The Storm are $6.50 to win the Grand Final - 3rd in the line of betting behind the Roosters ($5) and Cows ($6). So plenty of people disagree with you on the Storm Cameron Smith has just about every record in the book - Anyone who doesn't think the idea of back to back premierships - one of the hardest things to do - isn't a motivator for him (not to mention Slater and Bellamy), well pity you for being a fool.... given just about everything Smith sets his mind to he achieves..
Nat
Roar Guru
Get some sleep champ. I'm sure you're smarter than your unqualified, mostly salty one-liners would suggest.
mushi
Guest
That stat has a bit of noise though right? You've got the deliberate disregard of super league (the broncos were the best team IMO and I hate the broncos) and also need to not look to closely at the preceding data set or you get another 4 repeats within a decade. I'm also yet to find anyone happy to give me even something like 24-1 odds each year on the returning premiers suggesting we don't really believe in the data
Rod
Guest
After watching Cam Smith in Origin 3, it was like watching King Wally, Darren Lockyer and JT rolled into one, It possibly the greatest individual 20-30mins I have seen by a player. As good as Cronk has been he is not in Smith’s class as a player. If Smith is injury free he can cover any of Crofts short comings as a rookie player. Storm and Cowboys are two best teams on paper right now. The Roosters I don’t know got a million dollar backline. The forward pack lacks depth and looks very underpowered by Roosters standards
Brendon
Guest
Actually I'd say the Storm would be ok without Cronk. They lost Slater (miles ahead of Cronk) and still made the GF and only lost by 2 points....
not so super
Guest
game involves defence as well as attack so i dont htink so
not so super
Guest
you finished 8th and will miss the 8 this year
not so super
Guest
they had a tough run because before that they had an easy run. they were lucky to finish 8th
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Months out from kickoff and it's already a two horse race ? Anything can happen in this comp , except Melbourne going two in a row , that's the one thing you can count out . Having said that I guess someone will do it one day . Anyway , I'd love to think Cronk will be the cure all for the Roosters, but unless he can get his props putting in the big ones week in week out , they'll go close again but I doubt they'll have the steam to be the premiers.
Nico
Guest
I just can't see Storm going back to back minus Cronk with a new halves combination with all of 70 first grade games between them, possibly the most inexperienced halves pairing to defend a premiership in recent memory, they'll be up there as usual but I suspect they'll fall short at business end
Stormer
Guest
Spot on buddy.
Stormer
Guest
Agree again.
Stormer
Guest
Couldn't agree with you more Peter. Croft is a future super star. Definitely a great chance to go back to back.
Stormer
Guest
I think they'll be tough to beat with JT back. However, I don't think they'll win the comp. it will be Melbourne and the roosters to fight it out. Brodie croft will be a sensation, especially with smith taking a lot of the pressure off him. Not sure about manly though Peter, I think they're in for a tough year. But I hope you enjoy watching them anyway. I'd be glad to see them do well.
Birdy
Guest
Have to agree with your mention of Lowe, Nat, During the finals I noticed his goal kicking and wondered if that was the main reason he was in the squad. I started paying attention to his game, he had a few solid carried and his defence was first class. I don't think he missed s tackle. . Hope he can carry on in 18.
Jacko
Guest
King Cowboy I doubt Morgan will even be the best in his team let alone the whole comp.....Taumalolo made record metres ever last year and without that Morgan would not have been able to do what he did off the back of it
The eye
Guest
Moses joined Parra at round 10..from that game onwards till the end of the regular season they lost a whopping 2 games..and from memory both occurred after Gutherson did his ACL..not bad for a 'workmanlike pack that rarely dominates'.. No one was more responsible for that than Moses..his combinations with Moeroa started to show real promise,Nthan Brown is a Gallen clone and theyve got plenty of whack with Manu and Scott in the bckrow..admittedly they need a hooker.. He played in Mal's PM XIII in '16 for 3 tries and 4 goals..the World Allstars last year and should have had Lebanon in the WC semis just finished... Not sure bout Dally M's, poster But ....if Coach Arthur keeps his development on this path and with that current rep. C.V. he'll be Freddy's number 7 in Game 1..
Peter Phelps
Guest
" it is our P’Ship" think you will find that it is the Storm's premiership and will be right up until at least the 1st week in October. Don't count your chickens.