How Cooper Cronk enhanced his legacy

Haha...great comment mate. I don’t think I completely agree, I think you’re selling JT a little short but that’s as well argued a point as I can recall reading.

Considering the way he played, I can see how you may have thought, 'Hargreaves was out that game'. However, I can assure you that he did play in the 2017 preliminary final against the Cowboys. I am very glad to be able to say that he played very well in the 2018 grand final.

So after all those changes the Cowboys played the GF 2017. The Cowboys should have been unbeatable this season. God damn it the Cowboys got robbed again.

Great food for thought, and not covered much in the media. Immortals are so hard to judge, but that's the point. Need to compare every which-way and genuine legends must miss out. Need a new generation to pass before you can look back with balance and not be swayed by one or two year's big performances. The $64 Q: who of Smith, JT, Slater, Cronk? Protecting the concept says "pick 2", but then you probably allow a 3rd every second generation because it's not a factory production line. As it stands, Cronk probably sits slightly behind the other 3, but he has been closing. For me, Smith's a lock for many reasons. JT's obviously been unbelievable. But just to play devil's advocate, re the calls "JT best-ever", I don't think they'll quite stand up in 10 years. For me, that's Joey Johns. Think the 2001 GF where Parra were strong favourites, ditto State of Origin 2005 - he blitzed. There were probably 10-15 top-level finals/rep games that Johns took by the scruff of the neck, winning and being up with best on ground. He was as skillful and competitive as JT, and innovative with creative elements of play that we'd never seen. JT had a stack of Origin games that do compare, and probably a few semis, but his 2015 GF game doesn't compare. Before you attack this dribble - I say he deserves the nod. Just question whether he "wears" as the best of all. I always thought Slater was super, but not Immortal. Maybe swayed by niggle earlier on (studs out on kick defence, etc)? His last 2 years have been unbelievable - fast, skillful, agile, vision and ballplay, and very clean. For me, must be in the conversation. Similar with Cronk, for different reasons. Possibly the best game manager I've seen - understands where the game's at and what's going on for individuals of both teams. Leads the plays, makes the right calls at speed, passes and kicks with precision, and guides the emotions and actions of all players. Sterling, Stuart, Alexander and Smith were similar in how they lifted everyone, but I think Cronk pips them. I'm a Roosters fan, but if you're dinkum looking at record books you'd say going back-to-back won't happen. Don't just look at their roster - look at the other rosters and the plethora of other players in rep teams. Then look at the 25 years of super teams that couldn't do it. Say, 12-1 or 14-1. It's a *very* big if, but another GF win, would give him the best stats of 2 generations, 4 GFs from 6 (ignoring 07-09) - at number 7 - and basically Qld wins whenever he plays. I dunno, and it'd depend on how he plays all year, but is there a (very remote) chance he could pip all 3?

TB, I believe the media drive the hype surrounding the concept and unfortunately players marketable ability wins far to often. DM’s are rarely given to forwards or outside backs. A CC medal to the most lovable feel good, never a villain as you know. JT doesn’t have a long kicking, (40/20 stat is a small indicator to a zero threat) JT plays predominantly right to left which good defensive teams can shutdown, JT relies heavily on field position and forward dominance to create a retreating defence. JT has required team selection to limit his exposure (Bowman, Linnett, G. Cooper, Luke O’Donnell) don’t worry they worked well together but they are predominately defence selected to help JT. Speed and attacking weapons on the edge are sacrificed for crash ballers and tacklers. Playing to flat, going to the line or running across field is detrimental to the time, depth and space your outside backs need to work in. Errors tend to come from pressure from the defence? A lot of Cowboys games were probably lost from trying to hard which is a terrible statement. Don’t get me wrong JT is a freak at seizing the moment. He’s brilliantly unpredictable, tenacious, tough, a highlight reel package, He’s a hero that delivered one of the happiest days of my personal life. He annoys me but I love him. TB. I would like Cronk for 80m of the feild and JT inside the attacking 20m please. Can I get thick juicy rump with a great sauce. Cronk at 7, JT at 6 please.

hold up. Roosters came ran second in 2017 without Teddy & Mitchell (was a standout this year). storm lost McLean, Harris and Cronk. The players that roosters lost were fringe players. Give melbourne back McLean and Harris the story would be different. Roosters lost to cowboys in 2017 cause they had no go forward (Hargreaves was out that game). Mclean is an Australia prop thats a big loss. Even if roosters had Pearce instead of Cronk with the addition of Teddy and Mitchell they wouldve made the GF.

So what does that mean for you for the inevitable immortal debate? It's been reasonably universally accepted that Smith and Thurston will be this generation's immortals. If you think Cronk is better than Thurston does that mean JT out, Cronk in? Both in? Both out? It's a tough comparison for mine. Very different types of players.

Good to see someone write an article recognising Cooper Cronk’s achievements. He’s the best 7 of this generation IMO. He ticks all the boxes. His kicking game both long and short are very good. His passing either side and support play is exemplary. He cover defends and also leads the defence in line speed when required. He always put his body on the line when required. He is a general that keeps those around him focused and engaged with clarity on the field. He doesn’t confuse his supporters and gives them direction. He doesn’t need protection. The GF was a classic example of a 7 wearing a dinner suit and his team being comprehensively better across the park as a team with his fellow half being freed up, having a blinder and the outside backs scoring the points. Watching the GF replay he has a hand in getting 2 errors from kicks that lead to tries. He gets in front of Asofa to win an obstruction and disallowed Storm try. He identifies the Storm being short on the left and gets good early service for Keary to throw the long pass and score the first try. He puts himself between Keary and defensive players in perfect position to ice the field goal. Have a look at the closest defender chasing Ado Carr after Keary interception? Those that think he didn’t play a major role in the win are probably also of the belief Thurston is a better 7. The success of the teams he plays for is no fluke.

Hmmm I agree but with this and a couple of other comments you’ve made, I feel like you’re lining me up for a big shot next time I stick up for Thurston... :-)

If a first receiver (7) is doing a good job in attack and defence the players outside side him are scoring tries and not leaking points. They generally aren’t standing out winning individual awards.

I can't believe an actual good read from this site, MIRACLE.

Trouble is Matt, it seems real that there is a rift between Smith and Cronk so they probably can't work together at admin level I do agree that Beattie should not be there at all. He's just there to make all the apologies, which he's got down to a fine art I can see it now, Beattie "look, when you run a billion dollar operation it's to be expected that a few mistakes will be made. The fact that we left the 2019 GF out of our schedule was just one of those little mistakes. No big deal, 2020 is just around the corner and we have our team of world class experts working on the 2020 GF to make sure that the 2019 oversight will never happen again!".

Very hard to argue his legacy hasn't been enhanced by leading the Roosters to a premiership and in the manner he played the GF. Absolute control and complete puppet master performance but we have to acknowledge the cattle he had at his disposal. We talk about highlight reels but I'm a fan of the set up play/player and that's where Cronk resides. The fact the majority of that team will be there next year puts them in good stead for a strong showing in 2019. One small point (cause I'm Bronco), Lockyer lead most of the Qld dynasty 06 - '11. But that also speaks to the quality of Cronk, to manage a team superstars yet only get noticed when he's not there.

I'd set the bar at Beattie's job. Get Cam Smith into Todd's role because if he can whisper the media like he does the refs, it'll be positives all around.

Cronk has well and truly passed the "Bennett Test". Like Bennett before his stint at the Dragons, there was always the suspicion that Cronk was benefiting from being in the premier system with the premier players of his era, both for Melbourne and QLD. But now that he has removed himself from that safety blanket, risked his reputation and won, no one can ever put an * on his career. The absolutely only caveat on that is that, like Bennett, it's not like Cronk went to a struggling club and changed their fortunes. The Roosters were only ever a game or two from winning with their existing roster and were premiers not long ago. But Cronk still had to take them that final step and he did it at an age when no one would have blamed him for cashing his Politis pension cheque and spending his spare time sniffing around Fix Studios looking for a hosting gig.

Being a neutral observer in the gf I chose to back the storm. I wanted to see Slater go out in full glory and the back to back voodoo broken I jumped ship after only 10 minutes. Cronk was in every frame on tv. It was clear he was in pain but still directing traffic.i watched him more than the game itself, no way he was going to last another 10. He did and he won the game One of the most amazing things I've seen in sport, anywhere, anytime.

Cooper Cronk replacing Todd Greenberg. If only. The more I think about his interviews, his opinions, how he runs a game. I hope Cooper is thinking that way too.

Not your fault, Baz. Glad we could see eye to eye. Maybe caps lock is an idea for sarcastic slander in the future.