Cooper Cronk has all but put a line through the Penrith Panthers’ NRL title hopes

Penrith fans, if you reckon Cooper Cronk is any sort of rugby league judge, than you are not going to like this, writes Paul Crawley.

Dejected Penrith players after the 2020 NRL Grand Final between the Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm at ANZ Stadium, Homebush. Picture: Brett Costello

Penrith fans, don’t take this the wrong way. But if you reckon Cooper Cronk is any sort of rugby league judge than you are not going to like this.

Because the six-time grand final winner has detailed why he believes the young Panthers won’t rate up with the NRL’s top title contenders again this year.

While Cronk is backing his old clubs Melbourne and the Sydney Roosters to remain the benchmark teams, with South Sydney and Canberra their biggest dangers, Cronk thinks the Panthers will have a huge challenge.

“I think Penrith had a really good year last year,” Cronk said.

“They (will) play finals, (but) I think they drop down a peg or two.

“The reason being is they had a lot of guys that had breakout years last year and they are young kids.

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Cooper Cronk is not expecting the young Penrith team to climb to claim the 2021 NRL premiership. Picture: Brett Costello

“I am talking (Jarome) Luai, (Stephen) Crichton, (Viliame) Kikau, Dylan Edwards. (Nathan) Cleary had a breakout year. It is really hard to do that again when other teams are now going to stop you.

“Like, Luai is not going to get that freedom down the left short side like he did last year, so he needs to develop and go to another level.

“I think they go really well but they might just find a few things (difficult).”

It certainly wasn’t missed by many when Cronk didn’t name the Panthers among his contenders while on stage at the Fox League launch.

But the man regarded as one of the game’s sharpest minds didn’t back away from his views when asked to elaborate.

“I think this year teams will fight them a bit harder with a little bit of pressure,” Cronk added.

“Cleary is not going to get the amount of space and time that he got last year. They will play finals. I am picking them to finish fifth or sixth.

Few players know what it takes to win an NRL premiership like Cooper Cronk. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

“But they were great last year because Cleary, (Api) Koroisau, James Fisher-Harris, Kikau, Crichton, Luai had the best seasons of their careers. And most of those guys are young.

“If they had best seasons when they are 30 years of age with 250 games under their belt they would know exactly how to get that job done again.

“Because teams are going to come after them and they are going to have to learn on the run.”

Cronk had a different view of the Storm and Roosters.

“Honestly, everyone sits here and tries to pick it,” Cronk said.

“One thing you get taught about professional sport in anything is don’t knock off a champion until he writes himself off.

“The Storm and Roosters have won the last four between them. They will be there again.”

The Raiders are Ben Ikin’s pick to win the 2021 NRL Premiership. Picture: Brett Costello

Ben Ikin is tipping Ricky Stuart’s Canberra Raiders to win the comp but says Cronk’s argument about Penrith had merit: “I almost agree with him but I can’t say for certain because it is a bit of a wait and see how much of last year from the Panthers was the mood and the chemistry and how much was sort of coaching, roster, game plan.

“If it was the latter then it will hold up again.

“They were high energy last year. They stayed up for a long while.

“So to replicate that will be difficult.

“But I don’t think missing the top four this year would be a failure for Penrith.

“They got a good look of what works and what they like, and they are still getting used to Ivan Cleary.

“But if they play finals again this year there will be some more lessons in that.

“The side will mature in 2021. They are going to be thereabouts for the next five to seven years.”