IS this the picture that proves the rift between former Melbourne teammates Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith is real? Our photographer caught this image of the former teammates after a tackle during the grand final.
IS this the picture that proves the rift between former Melbourne teammates Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith is real?
A lot has been rumoured of the pair's relationship since the Storm's round 16 win over the Roosters at Adelaide Oval.
The match ended with Cronk giving each former teammate a handshake and hug as he walked along the line. All, that is, except Smith.
The pair shook hands briefly, with Smith awkwardly going in for the hug only to be brushed.
Rumours about a rift between the pair have swirled since, although both NRL stars have denied a problem.But does this picture shot by Daily Telegraph photographer Brett Costello prove the rumours right?
Smith had just tackled Cronk during the 2018 grand final at ANZ Stadium as the Roosters star tried to get a kick away on the last tackle of a set.
While the cameras and the fans followed the ball after it left Cronk's boot, Costello's camera caught the moment where Cronk appears to grab Smith around the neck as he gets to his feet.
Many people believed things to be icy between Smith and Cronk since the Roosters five-eighth left Melbourne for Sydney.
We didn't think things were openly hostile, though.
"If I get a contract, I will play next year. We will just do what we have to do tonight," Smith said.
"Obviously it is going to be a pretty disappointed dressing room.
"But, you know, a lot of our family and friends are up here to spend the night with us.
"And we will celebrate the season and what we have been able to achieve to this point."
There it is @sydneyroosters fans!#NRLGF#NRL pic.twitter.com/w2ow0cTi1Y
— NRL (@NRL) September 30, 2018
"First of all, to Craig, Cam, and the whole Melbourne team, I want to thank you for a tough game tonight. Special mention to Ryan Hoffman and Billy Slater, congratulations on great careers and enjoy your retirement.
"To all of the Roosters fans and the fans that came out tonight, thank you very much for your support all year.
"We love you guys and we appreciate you being out here, week in and week out. To our families and our friends, to all of you guys up there who put up with us every week, we love you guys."
"Thanks to Melbourne, three Grand Finals in a row. It is a tough thing to do. You are an awesome team, Cameron and Craig.
"Obviously, Billy, and everyone. You have had great careers and it has been a pleasure to play against you. I wish you nothing but the best.
"We did it. It has been an awesome year. Everyone has got a bit of this medal. All 30 of us, all the support staff. I can't thank you enough, and let's party, eh?"
The 2018 Clive Churchill Medallist – Luke Keary!#NRLGF#NRL pic.twitter.com/pfCLAw3zw3
— NRL (@NRL) September 30, 2018
"If I get a contract, I will play next year. We will just do what we have to do tonight," Smith said.
"Obviously it is going to be a pretty disappointed dressing room.
"But, you know, a lot of our family and friends are up here to spend the night with us.
"And we will celebrate the season and what we have been able to achieve to this point."
"Not many would have seen what he did behind the scenes. He is a true champion and he played through a lot of pain tonight and for him to do what he did during the weekend then to get his head on and turn up and do what he had to do, he is a big part of why we're here, and we love him. We're just stoked," Friend said.
And on Luke Keary stepping up…
"He had his head on from the start of the week. He knew it was a big game for him and when he does get his head on, he is an angry little man. I was excited for what he would do and he didn't disappoint."
"This finish is not how we plan, but that is footy. That is the way it goes. They were better than us in the first half and they got out to a big lead and we couldn't pull them back in. We tried our best," Slater said.
"We didn't help ourselves. We dropped a bit of the ball. But the Roosters were too good. The carries out of their half were a lot better and they were holding us up and dragging us back.
"And then they were finding the ground and playing the ball quick. We couldn't handle their guys at the start of the first half and then it was snowballing their way. That is footy, and the weight went today."
"I can't talk. It's so good. We started so good, that first half. We have hung in in the second half. How good is this? It's what you play footy for," Cordner said.
"We knew that Cooper was touch and go. It was touch and go all the way up until game time. We had to make up a game plan where we protected him as much as possible. We executed that but we knew defence would win it. From the start of pre-season we've been working on that for a few years to put in a performance like that on the biggest stage, it's unbelievable.
"Just through him being there, him at 30 per cent, we want him on the field. It will come out later but he actually broke his scapula. It's a big performance by Cooper, that will go down in history."
Roosters are the 2018 NRL Premiers.
The Storm had a night to forget but take nothing away from the Roosters who looked sublime in attack and determined in defence.
Roosters are the 2018 NRL Premiers.
The Storm had a night to forget but take nothing away from the Roosters who looked sublime in attack and determined in defence.