Sydney Roosters star Cooper Cronk is set to line up for his side in the 2018 NRL Grand Final, despite copping a worrisome shoulder injury in last week’s preliminary final win over the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
The Roosters are yet to formally announce the news, but multiple sources in the media are reporting that Cronk has been medically cleared to play, and will take his place on field.
BREAKING: Word out of ANZ Stadium is that Cronk will play tonight. ???? #9WWOS pic.twitter.com/1hp9C0x8Iv
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) September 30, 2018
Breaking: Cooper Cronk has reportedly been declared fit to play in the #NRLGrandFinal https://t.co/ucFy5yDzx6 pic.twitter.com/bqrWy9JRT8
— FOX SPORTS Australia (@FOXSportsAUS) September 30, 2018
Hearing cooper cronk is playing. Has been medically cleared by roosters doctors. Now up to cronk to make the final call @travismeyn
— pete badel (@badel_cmail) September 30, 2018
Growing whispers from the Olympic Stadium that Cooper Cronk has been cleared to play. @abcgrandstand's man on the ground @MCarayannis is on the case to find out #NRL #nrlgf
— Ned Hall (@NedGrandstand) September 30, 2018
Out walking the dog, and I swear Cooper Cronk just drove past me in an Audi!
— Ryan O'Connell (@RyanOak) September 30, 2018
That means that tonight’s grand final match is bound to have a little extra spice in it as Cronk goes up against the team he had so much success with, the Melbourne Storm.
Will Cronk and the Roosters triumph over his old friends Cameron Smith and Billy Slater, playing his final NRL game? Only time will tell, but with Cronk in the side Sydney certainly have a better chance.
If Cronk’s inclusion is confirmed then the likely result is that he’ll push Mitchell Aubusson out of the No.7 guernsey and back onto the bench.
Paul Momirovski seems the most likely player to be dropped from the bench, in what would be a cruel blow after scoring a crucial try in last week’s win.
The teams as currently named are as follows:
Sydney Roosters
1 James Tedesco, 2 Daniel Tupou, 3 Latrell Mitchell 4 Joseph Manu, 5 Blake Ferguson, 6 Luke Keary, 7 Mitchell Aubusson, 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 9 Jake Friend (c), 10 Siosiua Taukeiaho, 11 Boyd Cordner, 12 Isaac Liu, 13 Victor Radley
Interchange: 14 Dylan Napa, 15 Zane Tetevano, 16 Paul Momirovski, 17 Ryan Matterson, 18 Lindsay Collins, 23 Cooper Cronk
Melbourne Storm
1 Billy Slater, 2 Suliasi Vunivalu, 3 Will Chambers, 4 Curtis Scott, 5 Josh Addo-Carr, 6 Cameron Munster, 7 Brodie Croft, 8 Jesse Bromwich, 9 Cameron Smith, 10 Tim Glasby, 11 Felise Kaufusi, 12 Joe Stimson, 13 Dale Finucane
Interchange: 14 Kenneath Bromwich, 15 Christian Welch, 16 Brandon Smith, 17 Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 18. Ryan Hoffman 19. Jahrome Hughes
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