Teammates pay special tribute to Mitch Cronin after tragic passing

Teammates of a rugby league captain who died tragically last week have paid a special tribute to their fallen skipper. WATCH THE TRIBUTE VIDEO HERE.

Their chemistry was unbreakable and their bond is forever.

Mitch Cronin, Pat Templeman and Sam Scarlett formed one of the most damaging spines in the Intrust Super Cup last year with the Wynnum Manly Seagulls – they fed off each other like they had played together for years.

But in fact, it was their first year together after Scarlett joined Cronin and Templeman from Souths Logan.

The bond between the trio was instrumental in leading their club to its first grand final appearance since 2012.

FORMER BRONCO’S SUDDEN DEATH LEAVES LOVED ONES REELING

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But that special bond between teammates wasn’t limited to the field as they became almost like brothers away from rugby league – taking end of season trips to Bali together, living together, catching up for regular beers or coffee, or in Cronin’s case chocolate milkshakes.

Mitch Cronin and Patrick Templeman. Picture: AAP/Renae Droop

That was until Friday when the bond came to a tragic end when their skipper and friend died after a supposed training accident at his parent’s house.

Templeman and Scarlett are hurting after the loss of their best mate and wanted to pay tribute to the man they call “Cro”.

“Cro wasn’t just our teammate, he wasn’t just our leader on the field he was our leader off the field as well,” Templeman, who played five seasons with Cronin at the Seagulls and lived with him for 18 months, said.

Wynnum Manly Seagulls captain Mitch Cronin passed last week. Picture: AAP/Renae Droop

“He would be the first person anyone would text if you wanted to have a beer or catch up for a ‘coffee’ – he never drank coffee, chocolate milkshakes for him.

“He would always be the first person wanting to do something. The busiest man, but was always free and if he wasn’t and you asked what he was doing his reply would be ‘not telling’.”

Before the season kicked-off last year, Cronin was announced as the new captain of the Seagulls, taking over from Templeman, who said he was the perfect man for the job.

Pat Templeman and Mitch Cronin. Picture: Wynnum Manly Seagulls

“On the field he would never really say much, he lead with his actions,” he said.

“Tough, competitive, fit, smart, composed, selfless – best describes him on the field.

“He knew exactly how each of his teammates played and would always try and play to their strengths.

“Last year, you could guarantee three things from him each game; he’d be in our top three players every game, he’d fake an injury so he gave us all a rest and he would come off needing multiple stitches.

“We tried to add up the amount of stitches he got last year and we reckon it would have been around 50-60 stitches.

“Footy meant the world to Mitch, I’ve never met someone who loved the game more – expect his old man, Withers, Chris Cronin.

Sam Scarlett and Mitch Cronin together on the field.

“Withers never missed a game, in fact he never missed a pre-game warm up out the back or a post-match team function.

“Sometimes we thought he was more nervous then us on game days. Luckily Withers always had Andrea by his side, Mitch’s mum, who he clearly got his good looks from. She kept Withers in check.”

So what was the man, who meant much to so many people like off the field?

“He was a shy kind of guy when you first met him, didn’t really say too much,” Scarlett said.

“But then soon you’d realise how much of a genuine person he was. He never was the loudest, certainly didn’t need to be the centre of attention but he was certainly the wittiest.

Sam Scarlett and Mitch Cronin on a holiday in Bali.

“Mitch was a popular guy, anywhere you went someone knew him and if they didn’t he certainly left with more mates. He could fit into any situation, he just had the type of personality that made everyone around him feel comfortable.

“I’ll miss calling him almost every week to just talk absolute crap. I will miss him answering the phone with ‘me little mate Sammy Scarlett’.”

While he will miss running out in the green, red and white of the Seagulls next to Cronin, Templeman said he would miss the simple things like forcing him to eat vegetables more.

“It’s the little things about Mitch I’ll miss most like cooking you dinner, making you eat vegetables and doing your washing,” he said.

Mitch Cronin and Sam Scarlett taking home award from the Seagulls presentation night last year. Picture: Wynnum Manly Seagulls

“Mitch, if there’s anything we’ve learnt over the last couple of days it’s how many people’s lives you’ve touched and how you have made ours so much better for knowing you.

“You are a great footballer, but you’re an even better person and we’re going to miss you so much.

“Thank you for living your life to fullest, we’ve got memories to last a lifetime.”

The loss of Cronin has been compounded by the current climate, with his Wynnum Manly teammates and coaching staff unable to be together due to social distancing laws around the coronavirus pandemic.

However, the QRL’s statewide competitions manager Dave Maiden said Wynnum Manly’s CEO Hanan Laban and coach Adam Brideson were not only supporting the players through this difficult time, but had also been in regular contact with Cronin’s grieving family.

Maiden said the QRL has offered support to Wynnum Manly, including access to the governing body’s wellbeing officers, but Laban and Brideson were leading the way for their club.

“These circumstances are very difficult for the club,” Maiden said.

“They’re going through a hard time, they’ve lost one of their leaders and it’s a bloody difficult time.

“Grief is different for everyone and Wynnum are trying to carry the candle at the moment and are doing a really good job through Brido and Hanan.

“They’re doing online team meetings, they’re catching up with the players daily (online) and I know Hanan and Adam have been in touch with Mitch’s parents as well.

“They’re doing a really good job of leading their club at this time.

“We just check in with them where we can and let them know we’re here. You want to go over and give them a hug but we can’t.”