Cooper Cronk shines in showdown with Mitchell Pearce as Roosters thump Knights 38-8
IT was the much-anticipated halfback duel between Cooper Cronk and Mitchell Pearce, but as the stunning numbers show it was victory by KO.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
HE was in seventh heaven.
The Roosters scored seven tries last night. And Crooper Cronk was involved in every one of them.
This was supposed to be the much-anticipated halfback duel between Cronk and Mitchell Pearce, who was, for the first time, playing against the club he represented for 11 seasons starting back in 2007.
But there was only one winner — and it was Cronk by KO.
In a stunning individual performance, Cronk helped to set up six tries and scored one himself in the Sydney Roosters’ convincing 38-8 win over Pearce’s Newcastle Knights before 15,153 fans at a soggy Allianz Stadium.
Yep, seven tries in 80 minutes. It was sublime.
“You guys like to think there is animosity or frustration,” Cronk said.
MORE: Roosters ace answers Brad Fittler’s Blues prayers
“But from my point of view, he (Pearce) is a good guy. I’ve got respect for Mitchell, what he’s done and how he’s held himself through this whole thing.
“He has done tremendous things for this football club over a long period of time. He has gone up to Newcastle with a really good attitude and he’s playing tremendous football.”
The final try came from a Cronk kick for winger Blake Ferguson after Pearce had fumbled the ball seconds earlier. The Roosters crowd razzed Pearce.
Cronk set up tries in the sixth, 29th, 35th, 40th, 50th and 66th minutes to send Newcastle crashing to their first defeat this season
He scored his own try in the 55th minute to complete a fairytale evening.
Don’t be fooled though.
Pearce tried his backside off — and set up Newcastle’s lone try — but the Roosters’ power and class shone through on a gloomy night.
Five ex-Roosters lined up for Newcastle — Pearce, Tautau Moga, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Connor Watson and Aidan Guerra — but they were powerless to stop a red, white and blue juggernaut.
It seemed abnormal, even bizarre, watching Pearce play against the Roosters.
He was spotted catching up with his old mates in the Roosters’ dressing sheds after the game.
“It was a good experience, a funny feeling coming back here,” Pearce said.
“It was another game of footy when you get out there.
“It is part of footy. I am enjoying my time in Newcastle. I’ve got a lot of respect for these (Roosters) boys. A lot of mates, it was good to catch up with them and shake their hands after the game.”
Asked about Cronk, Pearce said: “I’ve said it a hundred times, Cooper Cronk is one of the greatest halfbacks ever. He doesn’t have to prove anything. Once again he was brilliant again tonight.”
When he led Newcastle off the field after warm-up Pearce was applauded by sections of the Roosters crowd.
Some even stood.
The Roosters ran riot in the second half to once again remind punters of their brilliance.
Wherever the ball went on Sunday night, Cronk was there. Running, kicking, scheming.
He was just too good.
Five-eighth Luke Keary was another standout.
A long-range 50th minute try to Ferguson ended any chance of a Newcastle comeback.
Cronk scooped up a loose ball from a Newcastle mistake to send centre Joseph Manu away before Ferguson finished a 90-metre movement.
“I thought he (Cronk) went really well,” said Roosters coach Trent Robinson.
“He controlled our team really well. He had a few different kicks there in the first half.
“We have improved each week. It was a step forward.”
The Knights’ final pain came when Moga was sin-binned for a professional foul.
A first half injury to centre Sione Mata’utia (concussion) upset Newcastle’s interchange. Teammate Connor Watson (dislocated shoulder) came off minutes later. Watson looks set be sidelined for 12 weeks.
“We were bad in some small effort areas,” said Knights coach Nathan Brown.
“If there were balls on the ground, they got it.
“Things feel their way and they deserved to get a good win.”
SYDNEY ROOSTERS 38 (B Ferguson 2 C Cronk L Keary L Mitchell V Radley J Waerea- Hargreaves tries L Mitchell 5 goals) bt NEWCASTLE 8 (A Guerra try K Ponga 2 goals) at Allianz Stadium. Referee: Alan Shortall, Chris Sutton. Crowd: 15,153
Originally published as Cooper Cronk shines in showdown with Mitchell Pearce as Roosters thump Knights 38-8
Sunday Session: Sacked Tiger hires Hagipantelis against club
Wests Tigers’ major sponsor and former chairman Lee Hagipantelis has been hired to represent sacked rising star Jordan Miller against the NRL club.
Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: NRL explore major video bunker overhaul
The NRL is considering serious changes to the bunker, a rising star could leave Melbourne, and how Brisbane’s sponsors have responded to the Ezra Mam saga. All that and more in Saint, Sinner, Shoosh.