Please. Read until the end before you judge me.
Two Sundays ago, Cooper Cronk won back-to-back grand finals with two different clubs! If that’s not crazy enough, he did it with a broken scapula.
It’s absolutely mind-boggling when put into context. Some players dream of winning one premiership ring (cue the Nathan Hindmarsh ring-less jokes). To do it back-to-back with different teams is incredible. The feat will most likely never be matched again and Cooper is rightly getting his due credit.
When broken down thoroughly, however, the feat may not be what it seems.
Cooper Cronk came from the Melbourne Storm. He was one-third of the Storm’s big three (Cam Smith, Billy Slater and himself). He has done it all; multiple Dally M winner, Golden Boot winner, multiple premierships, World Cups and multiple Clive Churchill medals – he actually has accomplished all there is to accomplish.
Last season, he decided to move to Sydney. Everyone, including his old club, assumed he would retire. Instead, to the surprise of many, he chose to sign on with one of the biggest sides in the NRL, the Sydney Roosters.
Cronk moved and began getting to work straight away, eventually leading them to a premiership against his old team.
If we break it down, what did Cooper exactly do?
He left the reigning premiers from 2017 to move to the Bondi club for 2018 and 2019.
But it’s not as if he joined a struggling side – far from it.
Since coach Trent Robinson took over in 2013, the Roosters have won two premierships and four minor premierships. They won it all in Robinson’s maiden year and were a constant presence in the finals after that.
(AAP Image/Paul Miller)
It was only in 2016, when they were plagued by injuries, that they had one of the weirdest seasons in club history, missing the finals and needing a quick re-build to regain their once-dominant defence.
In 2017, they pushed for another grand final qualifier birth, only to go down to a red-hot Cowboys side.
With all that said, the Roosters have been the most successful side since 2013, followed closely by Cronk’s former team, the Storm.
Let’s move on to the off-season in 2017, where Cooper announces his signing with the Roosters. Not only does he sign, but the Chooks also grab James Tedesco. In the wake of this signing, Tedesco is a clear-cut choice for second-best fullback in the competition, behind Cronk’s ex-teammate, Billy Slater.
So, Cronk moves with the second-best fullback in the competition to arguably the most successful team in the past five years.
In addition to all that, the Roosters boast one of the best coaches in the game with Robinson, the NSW Origin captain in Boyd Cordner, and pure potential stars in Latrell Mitchell, Joseph Manu and boom rookie Victor Radley.
Pairing up with the talents of Cronk and Tedesco are two premiership-winning players in captain Jake Friend and five-eighth Luke Keary.
Catching my drift?
Cronk walked into the most successful club in the past six years with a premiership-winning coach, a new recruit who, at the time, was the best up-and-coming fullback in the competition.
Throw into that mix Cordner, Mitchell and a premiership-winning spine – doesn’t sound like it would be all that hard to win, does it?
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Yes, Cooper won back-to-back titles with different teams.
Yes, he beat his old team to do so.
Yes, he has one more ring than the former members of the big three.
But remember, he beat the team he himself left in a bit of a hole. Look at the dominant Storm teams, take away one key player, add him onto arguably the second-best team, add him in with the second best fullback to replace his combination with his old fullback (who was the best) and what do you have?
Back-to-back premierships.
Sounds so simple. The feat sounds so incredible, but I just don’t think it should warrant the praise it has received. The fact he did it with a broken scapula speaks louder volumes to me than the actual back-to-back feat itself.
Walking into Sydney pretty much presented the Roosters with a premiership. Walking into the Knights? Then we may have a headline for our old friend Cooper, but, much as I hate to say it, I just don’t think his feat with the Chooks was that incredible.
And before you go on and say I’m a ‘hater’, if you asked me to name my top three halves of all time, in no particular order I would say Andrew Johns, Wally Lewis and Cooper Cronk.
Yes, I’d have him over, Johanthan Thurston. But that’s an issue for another article.
I marvel in your work Cooper, you’ve been a great player and a top-three half for mine. I just can’t think too much of this feat. Not now. Not ever.
EastsFootyFan
Roar Guru
“ I marvel in your work Cooper, you’ve been a great player and a top-three half for mine. I just can’t think too much of this feat. Not now. Not ever.” I hate to dig up an old article like this, but just out of curiosity, did Coops winning 3 premierships in a row at all elevate his achievement for you?
Wayne
Guest
Great player Shirt bloke Is nothing without the Storm Nothing Still playing at Norths Devils Like every Sailor or Soldier or FIFO worker had to be separated from his partner Didn seem such a big deal when he was on rep tours Boo Hoo Led another club against a club he would be nothing without to take a flag from them Average human being at best And he couldn do jack in 2015 vs Criminulla Great player Incredibly selfish human being
Bondi Tri Colours
Guest
I agree. Cronk or no Cronk, the Chooks would have won this Premiership regardless. Cronk was additional chocolate topping that made the dessert all the more enjoyable, and made for one hell of a GF win that punters will talk about for decades to come. Willie La'ulu got this right.
Rob
Guest
Good point if DM was the ranking system of most valuable. TMS, Ponga, Holmes and Slater are better than Teddy? Also Gordon is no very good.
0oB
Guest
"In the wake of this signing, Tedesco is a clear-cut choice for second-best fullback in the competition, behind Cronk’s ex-teammate, Billy Slater." Forgot who won the Dally M this year? Teddy's great, but there ain't nothing clear cut about the situation at the top of the fullback rankings. About 4 guys with very good claims - and that's not counting Slater. I felt this line was symptomatic of the general argument here, I fear. Sorry mate.
Rob
Guest
So what are your thoughts about the Cowboys? They made the 2017 GF. and took care of the Sharks, Eels (that went within 2points of beating Storm at home in the Prelim) and the might Roosters all on the road with a busted team. They had 2 current Origin Second rowers The Best lock forward in the game and a rare (forward) DM player of the year winner. One of the best ball playing back rowers on the bench with a club 64% win ratio on the bench. (Asiata) A Grand final winning backline. In 2018 the Cowboys gained. A 45 game Origin and Australian Prop who has a 75% win ratio at Rep level. (M. Scott) A current Australian Prop with a 100% win ratio at rep level and 70% at club level. (Jordan McLean) They had the greatest head wearing footballer to ever lace on a boot playing 7 but they failed to make the 8.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
He did get the Knights to a prelim final.
Don Lampard
Guest
No, "skull" was perfect IMO.
Magic Mike
Roar Rookie
But wayn benette build the Broncos from the start.
Fight Fair
Guest
I dunno one team does it every year, and usually it’s one the the teams with the best rosters.
Showstoppa15
Guest
Questions is, Did the Sydney Roosters win the premiership because they signed Cooper Cronk? or Did Cooper Cronk win a premiership because he joined the Sydney Roosters? Personally, i think the former, The Sydney Roosters hadn't won a premiership since 2013 considering the yearly "rosters" they've had at their disposal & of course, that also of their seemingly limitless & somewhat "Salary Cap Exemptible" & readily available chequebooks!! Point is, they were always "Competitive"(where there's a "bill", there's a way" as they say...imagine what a few hundreds of thousands "Bills" will do????) anyhow, besides the point(to a certain extent????), they still weren't able to win a premiership until a Genuine Character of a Halfback came to the club. Enter Cooper Cronk & suddenly the "Inner-Workings" of a team consisting of champions, gradually becomes a Champion Team from the "Inside Out" as the season unfolded!! So in conclusion, as one of course, i do believe his Back To Back Premiership successes have merit & considering how competitive the league has become across all teams, it certainly makes his accomplishment of such a feat all the more remarkable!!!!!!!
Dutski
Roar Guru
With the Roosters, I meant. Not meaning to downplay his time at the bunnies. My bad.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Mitchell Pearce a good first grader but not a big match player. Cronk has those characteristics in spades. Yes he "directed traffic" in the GF however Alan Langer did that on a weekly basis without a number on his back. Didn't help The Broncos.
Paul
Guest
Same reason I don’t rate Wayne Bennett 6 premierships. Could he have done it with Gold Coast Seagulls, South Queensland Crushers or even Newcastle Knights more recently?
farqueue
Roar Rookie
Keary been there before and not got it done?...I was at 2014 GF and thought rabbitohs won... must have been a dream.
farqueue
Roar Rookie
Where were those games played....qld at home are almost unbeatable and even with nsw dismal record in last 12 years their winning percentage at home is still ok... did I join the dots?
Dutski
Roar Guru
Great argument Willie. I don’t agree, but well constructed. Some of these things are 20/20 hindsight though. At the start of the year Mitchell was as known for his brain snaps as his potential. Ferguson had been flicked from Origin for ill discipline. Keary had been there for and not got it done. Radley was an unknown. Manu was a skinny kid who was quick. Look at the interviews since the GF. Keary, Mitchell, Manu all point to one man improving them. Yes, Cronk moved to a good team. A very good team. Robbo is a good coach. Teddy has been a gun since day 1. So much we agree on. Where we disagree is the idea this wasn’t that special. He joined a very good team and improved it. He improved the players around him. His team beat the reigning premiers and everyone else. He was so critical that the played with him as an absolute passenger and still won! That’s special.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Join the dots. 2014 Qld leading game one, origin. Cronk breaks arm after 10 mins. Qld lose game plus game two. Cronk back for game 3, Qld win. 2017 Cronk centre of Storm dominant grand final win. 2018 Cronk goes to new club, beats Storm in grand final. I think Cronk has got something to do with those results.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
What cannot be measured is Cronks effect on the rest of the team off the field. I used his quote before on this forum "If I am the Roosters best player I have't done my job". The Roosters have been close in previous years yes but the improvement in players across the board at the Roosters this season is incredible. Keary was a good player but he has gone to another level. Mitchell started the season as a kid with potential and finished it as the games premier center, Joey Manu couldn't even make first grade last year but finished the season as one of the best. Ferguson had his best season in his career and Isaac Lui has jumped out of the ground. The Roosters were close last season but as a supporter at no stage did I see a premiership coming in 2017, The 2018 Roosters would beta the 2017 version by 20. Would the Roosters have won with Pearce in 2018?? We shall never know. But they did win it with Cronk and what we can't measure is how his off field influence contributed to it.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
Skill that should have been. Where is the edit function? Lol