Luke Keary’s ruthless attitude explains why Sydney Roosters can win grand final without Cooper Cronk

THERE is an increasing fear that Cooper Cronk won’t take the field on Sunday night because of his bung shoulder. But Roosters teammate Luke Keary doesn’t care. This is no one-man show.

Luke Keary could yet slip into Cooper Cronk’s halfback role. Pic: Brett Costello.

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LUKE Keary has revealed how the Sydney Roosters have gone about dealing with the Cooper Cronk injury circus this week.

There is an increasing fear that the star playmaker won’t take the field in Sunday night’s NRL grand final because of his bung shoulder, although a final decision is not expected until an hour before kick off.

But asked how the rest of the team could ensure they don’t lose confidence if Cronk is ultimately ruled out, the Roosters’ larrikin five-eighth answered bluntly: “By not caring.

Luke Keary could yet slip into Cooper Cronk’s halfback role. Pic: Brett Costello.

“Honestly, what can you do?

“You can’t do anything about it.

“He hurt himself.

“There is nothing we can do about that.

“If you are not ready to go now, you are never going to be ready.

“You have trained 10 months to get here.

“Don’t sh** yourself because one player got hurt.”

The thing about Keary is that he doesn’t talk in clichés — and he doesn’t live his life fearing what might be.

Luke Keary has had one of the best seasons of his career.

Early this year, in round three against Newcastle, Keary himself was playing his second game back from a busted jaw.

And in that game he had a blinder, scoring one try where he ran straight over the top of his opposite, Brock Lamb.

It was like Keary thought he was a 110kg backrower as he charged at the line, not an 85kg NRL lightweight just returning from a serious injury.

At the time Trent Robinson said of Keary: “Luke will never die wondering”.

Reminded of the moment, Keary responded: “To play at this level you can’t be scared.

“Well, there are probably a couple of dudes running around that are scared.

“But you can’t be scared.”

Which is why, regardless of Cronk’s fitness, Keary has not allowed himself to waste a minute this week worrying about what might be.

Cooper Cronk’s fitness has been a big story all week.

Ever since he was a growing up in Ipswich, Keary’s motto has been to back himself.

Same deal when he fell out with Russell Crowe at Souths.

Even late last year, when Cronk was brought in over the top of Mitchell Pearce, most thought Keary might be the player to end up on the outer.

Instead, the 25-year-old has had arguably his best season playing beside his new halves partner.

And the irony now is it might be Keary left to take charge if Cronk doesn’t take the field.

Keary already has one premiership courtesy of his time at the Rabbitohs.

Now he wants another, regardless of who ends up being his halves partner.

“I don’t want to experience the other side,” the 25-year-old said.

The battle of the No.6s - Luke Keary and Cameron Munster - could well decide the game.

“I know it means nothing unless you get the win.

“And I don’t want to sound ruthless, but I don’t care (if Cronk plays).

“I know all I can do is take care of my own preparation.

“You just have to worry about yourself.

“You make sure you turn up and you are 100 per cent and you do your job and you hope the bloke next to you has done the same thing.

“You can only control what you can control.

“It sounds ruthless but I don’t care.

“Coops will do what he needs to do.

“Everyone will do what they need to do.

“And you turn up.”

The talk is if Cronk is ruled out Robinson is likely to hand control of the team to Keary and start the bigger-bodied Ryan Matterson at five-eighth.

Given the Roosters have built their success this year on their defence that seems the logical option, although perhaps young Sean O’Sullivan might find a spot on the bench.

“I don’t understand the game as well as a lot of other people,” Keary said.

“But I know if I have to play halfback Robbo is going to show me how to do it and tell me what I need to do.

“And I will go out and do it for him.

“And if I have to play five-eighth same thing, I know what I have to do and I will go out and do it for him.

“So I don’t care either way.

“I just don’t care.”

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Originally published as Luke Keary’s ruthless attitude explains why Sydney Roosters can win grand final without Cooper Cronk