Cooper Cronk calls time on magnificent NRL career

By Steve Zemek / Wire

Champion halfback Cooper Cronk has announced he will retire from the NRL at the end of the 2019 season.

The 35-year-old is in the second and final year of his contract with the Sydney Roosters and will draw the curtain on a 16-year career.

Cronk will be remembered as one of the game’s greatest playmakers after a career including 22 State of Origin appearances for Queensland and 38 Tests for Australia.

Cronk began his career at Melbourne where he played in seven grand finals for four wins, although the Storm’s 2007 and 2009 titles were later stripped for salary cap cheating.

He wrote himself into Roosters folklore when he last year played through the pain of a broken shoulder blade to lead the Tri-Colours to a grand final victory over the Storm.

He has played 357 first-grade matches and earlier this month jumped Darren Lockyer into second on the NRL’s all-time appearance list.

The Crowd Says:

2019-05-22T04:38:03+00:00

stevesyd

Roar Rookie


Hey Woodsook, where are all the supporting emojis LOL

2019-05-21T02:50:58+00:00

Papi Smurf

Roar Rookie


"Shall I do the roll call?" Autocorrect is killing me!

2019-05-21T00:35:21+00:00

Papi Smurf

Roar Rookie


Ouch! Still, one mistake off-field in the last 9 years of his career makes Inglis a saint compared to the disgraceful off-field antics and behavior of the Roosters in recent years. Shall I do the role call? 2009: - Nate Myles (drunk and disorderly, defecated in the hall outside his hotel room) - Jake Friend (drunk and disorderly, assaulted a taxi driver, charged with DUI), a drink-driving offence like GI, glass houses. 2010: - Anthony Gelling - Roosters Toyota Cup Cup (defecated on tables and floor of his hotel room) - Sam Brunton - Roosters Toyota Cup (defecated on tables and floor of his hotel room) - Todd Carney (drunk and disorderly conduct, assault and arson) 2011: - Todd Carney (drunk and disorderly, charged with DUI), a drink-driving offence like GI, glass houses. - Anthony Watts (drunk and disorderly, assaulted a woman) 2015: - Martin Kennedy (banned as a drug cheat) - Willis Meehan (robbery and assault occasioning actual bodily harm) - Michael Jennings (arrested and charged with offensive behaviour after a drunken incident) 2016: - Mitchell Pearce (drunk and disorderly, assaulted a pooch) 2017: - Shaun Kenny-Dowall (arrested for cocaine possession) - Paul Carter (arrested for supply of cocaine to SKD, made a false narcotics allegation to police, failed to appear in court for sentencing) - Jayden Nikorima (contract terminated after he TWICE failed a drug tests. In 2018 there were 21 off-field scandals in the NRL. The Roosters were the second highest club with 8 after the Eels 13. Glass houses "Hot Dog". Some doors shouldn't be opened. No club is perfect, and Souths have had their share of problems as well, but nothing that approaches the level or severity of the cancerous and systemic off-field dysfunctionality of the Roosters!

2019-05-20T20:34:52+00:00

Insider

Roar Rookie


Wrong walker big man, Cody is who you want, whilst Dylan is a Manly lad I will support him however getting tired of his attitude, didn’t like his arrogance last week when cameras went to Manly training, he should focus on his rehab getting his head an attitude right not playing to the media

2019-05-20T20:00:45+00:00

Hawtdawg

Guest


I’m sure there’s plenty of others besides Inglis , that can teach him how to drink drive.

2019-05-20T19:55:54+00:00

Hawtdawg

Guest


“The magic Roosters hat”. I like it , should be mandatory reading in all Australian primary schools.

2019-05-20T14:20:38+00:00

PT

Guest


Trent Robinson, as he is the Roosters coach, you tool

2019-05-20T13:41:35+00:00

Ralph Malph

Roar Rookie


Good day Bruce Pickett, fine game in the 1975 grand final son ….. well done. Yes I read the same article and what you just wrote is the same thing I read also. Both parents know he is getting the best treatment and coaching at the Roosters. Like they say if it isn't broken then don't fix it. Latrell will retire a 300 plus Rooster.

2019-05-20T13:33:54+00:00

Ralph Malph

Roar Rookie


I'll have a yarn with Robo if he wants to sign Walker. But if the Roosters sign him he is banned from playstation.

2019-05-20T13:31:39+00:00

Ralph Malph

Roar Rookie


Brett Finch was too busy having coming in and out of "blackouts" to get a proper picture of events. Smurfster

2019-05-20T13:27:29+00:00

Ralph Malph

Roar Rookie


At my age I have a bed side draw filled with them.

2019-05-20T13:20:47+00:00

Ja ja klazo

Guest


My god Souths fans are pathetic

2019-05-20T13:13:11+00:00

Ralph Malph

Roar Rookie


It is common Knowledge that soufffffs were over the cap, hence the retirement of Inglis after a massive push from the real Papa Smurf Wayne Bennett. For them to get under the cap after being the modern day "TRANSIT LOUNGE" purchasing 10 players in the off season, found themselves 300k over the cap. Inglis walking away have automatically put them back in the black.

2019-05-20T11:59:52+00:00

Ralph Malph

Roar Rookie


I believe Cooper Cronk will one day be an immortal. He proved his greatness years ago playing the majority of his career with Melbourne, being a duel Dally M winner, Golden Boot winner and in 2012 won the Clive Churchill Medal as well as winning 5 grand Finals. He confirmed his Greatness last season and then doing the impossible with a new club guiding the Sydney Roosters to Grand Final Victory. Being a halfback leading the team all around the park and being the main man and organiser has him as one of the greats. I remember a few years ago Ricky Stuart won a few comps with Canberra then like Cronk switch clubs at the end of his career but he could not do what Cronk did and guide his Bulldogs to Grand Final Victory. Cronk is the best.

2019-05-20T11:49:04+00:00

Ralph Malph

Roar Rookie


CLOWN

2019-05-20T11:47:54+00:00

Ralph Malph

Roar Rookie


Choo Choo Smurffies only wants the believe his own stories :) He still believes to this day the propaganda that some sites write and quotes it as his source of information. Like the 35 game Young rookie Angus Crichton who had not even represented NSW at the time of signing joined the Sydney Roosters on a million bucks. ahahahahahahahaha Not even legends Thurston, Smith or Mitchell signed on as a rookie for that much just to mention three future immortals. Ahahahahahahaha

2019-05-20T11:33:22+00:00

Pickett

Guest


Beautifully said Rob

2019-05-20T11:29:44+00:00

Pickett

Guest


@Puppy Serf I read that article. Mitchell snr is a Sou ffs fan. But he loves what Easts have done for Lattrell. No where does he mention his son going to Sou ffs. In fact he's bemused by how the rumors have started.

2019-05-20T11:29:26+00:00

Ralph Malph

Roar Rookie


…...and another thing soufffffie Smurfffs the Roosters, which is well published after Napa's departure during the off season freed up 400k. That amount has not been spent as yet. That's why the roosters if need be are still in the market if need be for players before the June 30 deadline. soufffffs on the other hand have only been granted by the NRL to spend 300k of Inglis cash this season and up to 700 next. ahahahaha Get the picture.....:)

2019-05-20T11:21:48+00:00

Ralph Malph

Roar Rookie


With the best businessmen running the Show at the Sydney Roosters, Caps and the management of it, is never a problem. Sign on for what you get with no little extras and no back ending, makes it a snack to keep every player in the club under the cap. Your problem mate is that you forget that when rookies sign on and then make a big name for them selves you estimate them at what a international is payed by other clubs. But the player is signed at our club as a rookie. His upgrade does not occur until the current contract expires. That's why your sums have sent you packing from one place to another spreading false stories. Your math is terrible. ahahahaha

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