Sydney Roosters star Cooper Cronk to announce NRL retirement
Champion halfback Cooper Cronk has made a startling admission as he prepares to quit the game with a record up there with the best of all time.
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AN emotional Cooper Cronk has made the startling admission he somehow hasn’t met the Sydney Roosters’ expectations, despite his role in last year’s grand final win.
A tearful Cronk yesterday announced he would retire from rugby league at the end of the season, ending what has been one of the greatest post-war rugby league careers at club, state of Origin and Test level.
Cronk, 35, has played 360 NRL games for the Roosters and Melbourne along with 38 Tests and 22 Origin matches for Queensland. He will be in every conversation when Immortals are discussed.
With $1 million now available in their salary cap, the Roosters can start their chase for a new halfback, although the club may shift Luke Keary to No.7 and move Latrell Mitchell into five-eighth in the immediate absence of Cronk in 2020.
There aren’t any elite five-eighths coming off contract after this season.
The entire Roosters playing roster watched Cronk’s retirement announcement inside the SCG Members Stand.
Despite winning a grand final in his first year, and playing the decider with a fractured scapula, Cronk will only be satisfied if the Roosters claim back-to-back premierships.
“I look forward to the next six months because they (Roosters) sacrificed a lot for me to come here and I still don’t think I have lived up to that. I will be doing everything I possibly can to repay that debt,” Cronk said.
“There’s no doubt my time is coming up but, I tell you what, if anyone thought I had worked hard for the past 15 years, well come watch me train Monday to Friday for the next 20 weeks. My job’s not done. If I started to clap myself and say ‘well done’ then the slippers go on and you get comfortable. Then, all of a sudden, you lose track of what these guys (teammates) need from me. I’m very grateful because it allowed me to have the two loves of my life – football and family here in Sydney.”
Roosters coach Trent Robinson knows Cronk has more than paid his debt at the club.
“Of course he has, but his mindset is that he still has to play games and he still hasn’t finished his career. He will do that after our last game and he’s pretty clear on what that last game looks like. He won’t allow himself to say that’s OK,” Robinson said.
BELLYACHE
Cronk publicly thanked Storm coach Craig Bellamy and ex- Melbourne teammates Cameron Smith and Billy Slater.
“There’s not too many other people on this planet that I respect more than Craig Bellamy,” Cronk said. “From what he did for me as a young kid all the way through until my last days.
“(He was) single-handedly the most influential person on my footy career. The best thing I think fondly about Craig is our mateship. He’s a mate first, a coach second.”
The Roosters even offered to fly Bellamy and some senior Melbourne players to Sydney for yesterday’s announcement.
MORE: ‘I have never seen a guy as mentally strong as Cooper’
“I know they would have done it but I didn’t want to put them in that awkward position,” Cronk said. “Billy and Cameron, I don’t think ‘thanks’ cuts it. They will go down in history as the two best players in their positions.
“That probably makes me the best third-wheel the game has ever seen because I just jumped on the back of what they were doing. I am really humbled my name gets spoken about in the same breath as those two.”
Cronk also paid tribute to Storm players and officials including John Ribot, Robbie Kearns, Matt Geyer, Stephen Kearney, Matt King, Dallas Johnson, Ryan Hoffman, Brett White, Greg Inglis, Frank Ponissi, Adam O’Brien, Will Chambers and Jesse Bromwich.
“Without Melbourne Storm in my life, I’m not who I am today.”
THE DECISION
Cronk was never going to retire early – nor extend.
“Once I signed a two-year deal here, I knew in my heart that would probably be it,” he said. “My job here is to make sure the Roosters are close to winning the next premiership once I’m gone. With the development of some of the guys starting to taking place, it was a pretty easy decision.”
COOPER COACH
Cronk, with such a wonderful football brain, seems a natural fit for a career with the clipboard.
“I don’t think I have the personality to go down that track of coaching,” he said. “I love the interaction with guys and working with individuals on their craft and hopefully that is something I can stay involved with.
“I don’t think my connection with football will ever fully disconnect but I don’t think I will coach. In fact, I won’t. If I’m 50 years old and I’m holding a head coaching job, you have permission to come slap me over the back of the head.”
Instead, Cronk is expected to continue in his commentary role with Fox Sports.
ROBBO’S ROOSTERS
Robinson believes Cronk’s intelligence and guidance had made him a better coach.
“He’s pushed me as a coach, he’s pushed us all as a club to strive for more and want more but do it with integrity and selflessness,” Robinson said. “He’s the greatest team player that I’ve ever seen. This man is one of the greats.”
Cronk added: “This club has a reputation of maybe living the high life here in the eastern suburbs and, as they say, sipping on lattes.
“But having experienced it, there’s some soul, there’s a lot of heart, a lot of care, a lot of emotion. A lot of selflessness that exists in the Roosters emblem because of people like Nick (Politis) and Trent.”
THE FAMILY
Cronk’s wife Tara and son Lennox were at yesterday’s announcement but the two tried to avoid any media spotlight.
“They are the two best things that have ever happened to me. Life has never been better,” Cronk said. I look forward to being the Dad that hopefully I can be and passing on as much love, care, support and hugs and kisses for the next 50, 60, 70 years.”
KING KEARY
Keary will take over from Cronk next season in leading and guiding the Roosters. “Absolutely he is ready,” Cronk said. “He was doing it in rounds two and three when I (was injured). But today isn’t about making decisions about what the team looks like next year – that’s for Trent and the coaching to work out.”
COOPER’S ADVICE
“Hard work pays off but you better show some humility alone the way,” Cronk said. “I like to think I have a pretty good work ethic.”
Originally published as Sydney Roosters star Cooper Cronk to announce NRL retirement
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