Reuben Garrick set to emulate Gerringong legend Mick Cronin as leading point scorer

Mick Cronin played a crucial role in Reuben Garrick’s rise to the NRL. Now the Sea Eagles star is set to emulate the feats of his fellow Gerringong product.

Gerringong products Reuben Garrick and Mick Cronin.

After 36 years, the NRL point-scoring gong might be headed back to Gerringong.

And the NRL’s leading point scorer after 18 rounds, Manly and former Gerringong Lions player Reuben Garrick, has spoken of the influence another Gerringong champion, the legendary Mick Cronin, had over his burgeoning career.

Garrick has scored 198 points to be a crucial part of the Sea Eagles’ resurgence this year through 14 tries and 71 goals. He is 36 points clear of Penrith’s Nathan Cleary and South Sydney’s Adam Reynolds, locked together in second place.

Manly Sea Eagles points machine Reuben Garrick. Picture: NRL Photos

It could be the first time a Gerringong player finishes as rugby league’s leading point scorer since Parramatta’s Cronin posted 204 points in 1985.

Cronin, in fact, was the NSWRL top point scorer in 1977, 1978, 1979, 1982 and 1985.

Garrick, 24, revealed he played first grade in coach Cronin’s Gerringong side which claimed the Group Seven grand final over Shellharbour in 2015.

“We won a first grade comp under Mick,” Garrick recalled. “I think I made my first grade debut at Gerringong when I was 17. Mick is a legend. Everything he says, you definitely listen. He offers a lot of wisdom as well.

“To play under him, he had that aura. A few guys have that aura – Mal Meninga, Cam Smith had it as well. You can’t really describe it. Even now when I see or talk to Mick, I get a bit nervous.

Reuben Garrick (back row, second from right) and Michael Cronin (second row, fourth from right) together as player and coach for the Gerringong Lions. Picture: Supplied.

“He is a great bloke, he was a great goal kicker and looked like a handful on the edge. His story is pretty cool, being picked for the 1973 Kangaroos while still playing with Gerringong. That’s a ridiculous story.”

Cronin revealed why he thought Garrick had kicked along to become a top-level NRL player.

“Reuben always wanted to play rugby league and he has put in the hard work,” Cronin said.

“He had a terrific attitude and was a terrific trainer. I always thought Des (Hasler, Manly coach) would appreciate his attitude to training.

“Goalkicking is something he has kicked on at. Everything about his game has kicked on. Reuben was picked in all the junior rep sides.”

Garrick moved to an acreage at Broughton Village aged 11 before shifting to Gerringong to start high school. He started playing for the Lions aged 14.

Mick Cronin and Ray Price after the 1986 grand final, where Cronin kicked Parramatta’s only points in their 4-2 win over Canterbury.

He played half of 2014 in first grade before linking with Cronin to win the grand final the following year.

By 2016, Garrick had been signed by St George Illawarra before switching to Manly in 2019 – a move which has transformed his career.

“Whenever you can strike a bit of form, you’re very grateful,” Garrick said. “It comes off the back of the team I am in. I’m the beneficiary of all the work being done inside me.

“Playing outside or Turbo (Tom Trbojevic), Kieran Foran, (Daly) Cherry-Evans and Brad Parker, he is playing awesome too. It comes back to them.

“We’re scoring a few points as well so that always helps me get a few shots at goal. Touch wood, if it did come off (being leading point scorer), I’d be over the moon.”

Garrick’s Sea Eagles play Wests Tigers this Saturday at Suncorp Stadium. 

Originally published as Reuben Garrick set to emulate Gerringong legend Mick Cronin as leading point scorer