NRL 2021: Roosters assistant Cooper Cronk paid under Storm’s football department cap

The truth behind Roosters assistant Cooper Cronk’s polarising Melbourne Storm training session is out - and it could have an impact on both clubs.

Former Melbourne Storm player Cooper Cronk is on the club’s payroll. Picture: Instagram

Melbourne Storm has come clean on the full extent of Cooper Cronk’s coaching role at the club.

Storm boss Justin Rodski broke his silence on Sunday, revealing the four-time premiership-winning halfback even has part of his salary included in the football department cap alongside other assistant coaches.

“Cooper has a mentoring role with our halves Cameron (Munster) and Jahrome (Hughes),” Rodski said.

“He’s not here all that often but he’s a legend of the game and has a great footy brain.

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“To have him mentoring these guys is extremely valuable for us.

“A component of his deal has been lodged and approved by the NRL as part of our footy cap.”

This version is certainly different to that of Cronk’s manager George Mimis, who told us last week his client was a corporate ambassador and had no formal coaching role.

So get ready for Round 6, Friday April 16. Melbourne Storm v the Sydney Roosters at AAMI Park.

The big story won’t be the game but the dual roles of Cronk.

What will he tell Luke Keary and Lachlan Lam about Hughes and Munster?

What will he tell Hughes and Munster about Keary and Lam?

The Daily Telegraph.

Cooper Cronk with Trent Robinson. Picture: John Feder

What are their strengths and weaknesses? Where will they kick etc, etc.

This is where it can get difficult. What happens if Storm and Roosters play in the grand final this year?

What does Cronk do in the build-up to the decider, remembering he’s on six-figure salaries at both clubs.

I can’t think of too many occupations where this sort of ­arrangement can exist, especially not in the catch-and-kill environment of NRL.

Imagine Paul Kent filing for the Sydney Morning Herald?

Imagine a Channel 9 employee going to mentor Channel 7 journalists?

I asked Trent Robinson over the weekend about the situation.

Publicly he says he doesn’t have a problem with it. Privately it’s a different story among Roosters officials. They knew he had an agreement with Storm but had no idea it related to coaching.

We also spoke to the eighth Immortal Andrew Johns, who is now at the Parramatta Eels but once had multiple gigs.

He says it’s too hard to have two jobs at two clubs.

“When I first retired I did a consultancy thing with a couple of joints,” Johns said.

“I felt like I was chasing my tail too much. It got too difficult. It could become a bit of a conflict. I find it much easier these days working for one club.

“I wouldn’t coach anyone against Parramatta now. It’s too difficult and tricky now to do two.”

At least Storm have included Cronk in their football cap.

It answers lots of questions rival clubs were asking over the weekend about having a “corporate ambassador” on the coaching staff.

This $5 million cap was introduced to stop a sports science arms race that was getting out of hand.

The wealthier clubs had a huge advantage in being in a position to better prepare their squads with more high performance expertise.

There was a fear the poorer clubs would spend above their means trying to keep up.

No-one wants to give a rival the slightest advantage.

That’s why both the Roosters and Storm want Cronk.