Cooper Cronk reveals ‘heated’ chat with Todd Greenberg over state of NRL

Sydney Roosters halfback Cooper Cronk has welcomed the NRL’s club wide State of the Game addresses, saying ‘heated’ discussions about the code’s issues will only help the sport grow.

Cooper Cronk has opened up on a ‘heated’ chat with Todd Greenberg. Picture. Phil Hillyard

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Roosters halfback Cooper Cronk has revealed an address by NRL CEO Todd Greenberg to the Sydney playing group on Friday about the serious issues facing the code turned into a ‘heated’ discussion.

Greenberg and other NRL officials descended on Roosters HQ to talk to the club’s senior players about the impact the league’s off-season from hell is having on the game.

Cronk conceded the NRL had to take a proactive stance but welcomed the opportunity to allow the players to engage in robust conversation with the NRL’s front-office decision makers.

Cooper Cronk has opened up on a ‘heated’ chat with Todd Greenberg. Picture. Phil Hillyard

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“I think it works well, in terms of getting some feedback face-to-face,” Cronk said.

“It is open dialog and it gets a bit heated.

“When I say heated, I think any boardroom that has provocative conversations is a boardroom that is improving.

“At the end of the day we are all partners in the game and we all want rugby league to be the best it can be, so we all need to play our part.”

Greenberg spoke with senior Roosters about the state of the game. (AAP Image/Chris Pavlich)

While there has been fierce debate over the NRL’s no-fault stand down policy following an off-season marred by multiple off-field indiscretions, Cronk believes all players are role models and have a responsibility to the game that goes beyond the football field.

“I definitely think the NRL had to act,” the champion playmaker said.

“I don’t have the education or the knowledge to understand the differing degrees of sanctions of what has gone wrong but I’ll tell you one thing.

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“We as players have more of a responsibility than just winning games of football.

“We need to have men, women, boys and girls wanting to become James Tedesco and Victor Radley.

“Part of our responsibility is to play well to represent the game and to behave higher than the law. It is as simple as that.”

Asked if this message had been lost on some players, Cronk replied:

“History shows that it has.”

Originally published as Cooper Cronk reveals ‘heated’ chat with Todd Greenberg over state of NRL