Meninga, Webcke, Lazarus, Simmons ... is Cronk next?

COOPER Cronk is poised to join the elite “Fairytale Grand Final Farewell” club if Melbourne salute in this Sunday’s NRL grand final.

Cooper Cronk. Photo: Getty Images

COOPER Cronk is poised to join the elite “Fairytale Grand Final Farewell” club if Melbourne salute in this Sunday’s NRL grand final.

We know it is certainly his last game for his beloved Storm.

It could very well be his last club game ever.

Billy Slater — like Cronk — is yet to announce his plans for next season but the superstar fullback is likely to play on given he missed most of 2015 and 2016 through injury.

Cronk’s future is less assured as he is yet to announce what Sydney club — if there is any club at all — he will play for.

The Maroons and Kangaroos halfback may just decide to call it a day on the club front — he still has the World Cup to go — if the short-priced Storm defeat the Cowboys at the NRL’s big dance.

He would be the latest and one of the greatest players to join the exclusive club that has said farewell to club footy in the best way possible.

Michael Cronin (left) and Ray Price hold the JJ Giltinan Shield after Parramatta defeated Canterbury in 1986. Photo: Peter Kurnik.

MICK CRONIN & RAY PRICE — Parramatta 1986

The silky goal-kicking centre and warrior lock known as “Mr Perpetual Motion’’ both called it a day after the Eels claimed a gritty 4-2 win over Canterbury at the SCG. Cronin — who had suffered through a couple of grand final nightmares with his trusty right boot — kicked the two goals for Parramatta to secure the club’s fourth title in six years.

The star duo, who were mainstays for NSW and Australia from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s, were integral to the Eels’ domination of the era and were chaired off in emotional scenes.

Royce Simmons and his Penrith teammates with the Winfield Cup in 1991.

ROYCE SIMMONS — Penrith 1991

Scored two tries in Penrith’s gripping 19-12 win over Canberra at the Sydney Football Stadium and promised to have a beer with every Panthers supporter in the aftermath of the club’s first-ever title.

The beloved former Test rake barged his way over from close range in the first half and was in the right place at the right time late in the second half to score after the Raiders attempted a short goal line dropout to spark the start of the wild celebrations.

Laurie Daley and Bradley Clyde hoist captain Mal Meninga after the 1994 Grand Final win.

MAL MENINGA — Canberra 1994

Big Mal said farewell to the Green Machine he helped turn into a juggernaut with a try in Canberra’s 36-12 demolition of Canterbury.

For the third time in his storied career, Meninga made light work of lifting the weighty Winfield Cup as Raiders captain.

Canberra were whipping boys when the barnstorming Maroons and Kangaroos centre made the move from the South Magpies in the mid-1980s but he was at the heart of the club’s rise to prominence.

He would go on to lead Australia in a record-breaking fourth Kangaroo tour soon after.

Glenn Lazarus with his Melbourne Storm players and the NRL trophy after they defeated St George-Illawarra Dragons. Photo: Gregg Porteous

GLENN LAZARUS — Melbourne 1999

Not overly surprisingly, the premiership magnet finished his career with grand final glory when the Storm scored a dramatic 20-18 win over St George Illawarra at the first-ever decider at Homebush.

After being a cornerstone of premierships with Canberra and Brisbane, Lazarus was the inaugural skipper at the Storm in 1998.

Their rapid rise continued the following year when they made the season showpiece and produced a stunning comeback to slay Anthony Mundine and the Dragons.

Lazzo did a less-than-graceful cartwheel post-match that registered on the Richter scale.

Webcke with the hard-earned hardware.

SHANE WEBCKE — Brisbane 2006

The “Warhorse” made his last fearless charge in Brisbane’s 15-8 upset win over Melbourne.

Fittingly, in the dying stages leading up to a critical Darren Lockyer field goal, it was the Test and Origin warrior who provided a telling hit-up to get the Broncos on the front foot and give the skipper time and space to slot the one-pointer.

He played the 2000 grand final with a broken arm so Webcke digging deep and going on one of his trademark bone-jarring carries when it mattered most was no shock to the Broncos faithful.

After stepping away from rep footy and declaring 2006 would be his last campaign, Webcke had the dream finish when he was called onto the stage by his long-time teammate Lockyer to help raise the premiership trophy.

Steve Menzies in his last match for Manly.

STEVE MENZIES — Manly 2008

The try-scoring machine crossed again in his last outing in Manly colours as the Sea Eagles rocked to a 40-0 thumping of Melbourne. It was the 35-year-old’s 280th and final game for Manly on top of the 69 games he played for the merger club, the Northern Eagles.

The backrower with the trademark headgear went on to play another five years in the Super League for Bradford and Catalans to top-up his super but will always be remembered as an Eagle.

Ennis the Menace. Photo: Getty Images

MICHAEL ENNIS — Cronulla 2016

On the field, he was not everyone’s cup of tea but there was no disputing the Ennis’ competitive nature and will to win.

The combative hooker played his last game of football in Cronulla’s nerve-racking 14-12 victory over Melbourne to hand the long-suffering Shire their first premiership since coming into the competition.

Ennis — now a Fox League analyst — was at the Broncos when they won the 2006 crown but he missed most of the year with a knee reconstruction and never felt part of the victory. He was also at the Bulldogs in 2012 when they were beaten in the title showdown by Melbourne.

But he was not to be denied this time.

Originally published as Meninga, Webcke, Lazarus, Simmons ... is Cronk next?