Kangaroos star Cooper Cronk scouts England team for Four Nations from grandstand

COOPER Cronk took the chance to get a gauge on England’s form during the star halfback’s rare weekend off heading into their clash with Australia.

Cooper Cronk says his work off the field is all-important.

COOPER CRONK sat armed with a notepad and pen as he looked to dissect weaknesses in England before facing them on Monday morning.

Cronk took full advantage of coach Mal Meninga’s decision to rest him last weekend by sitting in the stands as England overcame a slow start to beat Scotland.

Although a reluctant observer, Cronk put his time on the sidelines to good use.

“You can do all the homework and analysis you want but you need to go out and execute. It was good to get an insight. Playing in the NRL, you see the NRL guys that represent England but you don’t get an understanding of the skills of the guys they bring in from the Super League.

“I was looking at the way Scotland did things and if I was Scotland what I would do. The coaching group sat with me there and we had discussions.

“At the end of the day they had a few changes as well. It was getting a bit of a gauge and a feel on how they play live.”

Cronk said it was a rare opportunity to watch an opposing side at a ground.

“I discussed the things Mal wrote down and I discussed the things I wrote down,” Cronk said.

“Some of the (notes matched). The idea is, you can watch everything on tape and video but you don’t get a feel for it. Having a double header and us being the second game, it was a chance to come and look.

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“You might watch a team from afar on the couch but you never get the chance to see them live. It brings a different appreciation. You see things with multi-dimensions and real time.”

While Cronk enjoyed flirting with the clipboard, he insists it is not something he wants to pursue once his decorated career finishes.

He took also took his place in the coach’s box alongside Meninga when the Kangaroos beat New Zealand in the later match.

“I wasn’t dissecting our game,” Cronk said. “I was just adding what I thought we could do.

“I like the idea of (coaching). I like the simplicity of dissecting teams. I like the ideas of giving young guys advice and helping them along. The fulltime coaching gig does require a lot of time and energy. At this stage I don’t think that’s where I want to go.”

Despite being 32, Cronk has no desire to follow Johnathan Thurston into representative retirement at the end of next year’s World Cup.

“It’s funny, a few of the older guys have had that question,” Cronk said. “I’ve never sat down and thought of it. Consciously I’ve never thought of an end date or anything like that. That’s a good sign.

“I’m a realist; I won’t be around for a long time. I’ve got two years of my Storm contract and I love playing football at all levels. If the sun has to set on one of those things, I don’t see that any time in the near future.

“I have the passion and drive and I think my performances still reflect that.”

Originally published as Kangaroos star Cooper Cronk scouts England team for Four Nations from grandstand