NRL Magic Round: Cooper Cronk praises Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett

Cooper Cronk has urged his former premiership mentor Craig Bellamy to seriously consider retirement and revealed his thoughts on how the coaching legend could be replaced.

Cooper Cronk at the Fox League launch for season 2022 at Comm Bank Stadium, Sydney. Photo: Fox Sports / Brett Costello

Queensland legend Cooper Cronk has cast doubt on whether Brisbane have enough gears to win a premiership as the Broncos prepare for a Friday night showdown with Manly and former coach Anthony Seibold.

In a wide-ranging interview on the eve of Magic Round, Fox Sports expert Cronk also revealed that he would like to see his long-time coach Craig Bellamy slip into retirement, spoke about his regret at having been coached only fleetingly by Wayne Bennett, and backed David Fifita and Jarome Luai for State of Origin spots.

The Broncos head into Friday night’s game against Manly at the top of the ladder and among the favourites to win the competition, having made a blistering start to their season.

Kevin Walters’ men have made believers out of many but they still need to convince Cronk before he declares them genuine contenders for the title.

The ex-Storm star still has vivid memories of the way they collapsed at the end of last season.

“I don’t have a lot of confidence – last year still rings a bell for me,” Cronk said.

“What was it? Fourth after 19 rounds and what they did after that.”

Broncos captain Adam Reynolds.

Kurt Capewell.

FLAT TRACK BULLIES

The Broncos have been great frontrunners in 2023 but they were given a dose of reality last week when they were put to the sword by South Sydney.

The Rabbitohs scored points at will in the second half in a performance that rang alarm bells over Brisbane’s ability to compete with the top sides when they are under the gun.

They face another of the contenders on Friday night, albeit a Manly side missing their inspirational forward Jake Trbojevic.

It shapes as an opportunity for Brisbane to show that they have the mentality and resilience to compete with the better teams in the premiership.

Cronk will be watching closely for a response.

“A lot of their play this year has been very good to watch and a lot of it has been through their power game and getting on the front foot,” Cronk said.

“But what are the Broncos like when they are on the back foot. That second half against Souths last week showed what they were on the back foot.

“If they get their game up and going they are hard to stop – they are powerful, young, fast, electric. But if they don’t get their game on, what is their option two and three.

“I want to see a little bit more of that – them on the back foot, how do they respond, before I say yes or no either way.”

Wayne Bennett will coach his 900th NRL game in Magic Round.

BENNETT MAGIC

Wayne Bennett will coach his 900th game at Suncorp Stadium this weekend, a remarkable feat for a man rated by most as the greatest coach in the game’s history.

Cronk was only coached by Bennett on one occasion – as part of the All Stars squad in 2012. It is a regret of sorts that he never got the chance to experience the genius of Bennett more than once.

“I would like to see what the Wayne Bennett magic dust is,” Cronk said.

“I think Wayne has played the game on and off the field in his own quirky little way but from a pure football perspective I have nothing but admiration and respect – I tip my cap to him.

“He has contributed to our game like not many others have. To coach 900 games is frighteningly really, really good.

“My greatest compliment to Wayne’s that he is 72, 73 years old, worked with multiple generations and still been able to get the best out of kids and men.

“I think Wayne Bennett is a rugby league person but he could coach any professional sporting team in any code because he does the basics well, the inspiration, what are we trying to achieve together.

“That crosses over all different codes. I was only really coached by Wayne once in an All Star game. I did’t come across him that much.”

Cooper Cronk believes the time is right for Craig Bellamy to retire.

BYE BYE BELLYACHE

Cronk spent the overwhelming majority of his career playing under Craig Bellamy at the Melbourne Storm and he has the utmost respect for his long-time mentor.

That admiration explains why he would like to see Bellamy retire at the end of the season. The Storm coach has been weighing up his future for months and a decision is believed to be imminent.

Cronk believes Bellamy has given enough to the game and the Storm. Now, he says, is the time for Bellamy to reward himself.

“I have said for the last three years that he should retire,” Cronk said.

“He has never listened to me. Everyone has their little fix and Craig’s fix is helping young men achieve their dreams and helping the Melbourne Storm achieve ultimate success.

“Craig Bellamy for me has changed the lives of over 250 young men who have come through the doors of the Melbourne Storm.

“He deserves the opportunity to lay on a reclining chair with the Coolangatta sun in his face and read a book. He has delivered to the Melbourne Storm ten-fold.

“He has helped a lot of people by being selfless in his approach but I would love to see Craig be a little bit selfish.

“I don’t have any intel but I would like to see Craig enjoy the finer things in life.”

Cronk still has close ties to the Storm but he insists that he has no inside word on who might replace Bellamy at the Storm.

He does, however, believe the club has a person in mind – former teammate Billy Slater and Sydney Roosters assistant Jason Ryles are believed to be the preferred candidates.

“I imagine they already know who that person is,” Cronk said.

“They are very good. They are not a club that sits down and waits for Craig to say he is in or out. They have done their homework, they have done their due diligence, they know who their person is.

“They are just giving Craig enough time to make that decision.“

David Fifita is in contention for Queensland’s Origin team.

Jarome Luai is under pressure to hold his spot in the NSW team.

ORIGIN STUNNERS

Origin is around the corner and there are selection dilemmas on both sides of the border. A pair of the biggest surround the futures of Gold Coast back rower David Fifita and Penrith five-eighth Jarome Luai.

Fifita has been in rampaging form for the Titans and his performance against Manly last weekend screamed Queensland selection.

Cronk believes he has done enough to earn a spot.

“I think he does get the call up,” Cronk said.

“The majority of the game in Origin you are under the pump. And for the first time in a long time, David Fifita is putting tough consistent performances together for long periods of time.

“He is playing his best football and that gets him picked. We‘ve seen him do flashes of brilliance, but I would pick him off the back of his tough efforts.

“He took on the Broncos pack the other week and while they lost, Fifita is the guy who has ignited the Titans. Under immense pressure on the weekend, he delivered.”

As for Luai, Cronk plumped for his selection in the NSW side over in-form Cronulla half Nicho Hynes. Hynes has been arguably the form player of the NRL over the opening two months of the season but Cronk is a fan of club combinations.

“I‘m sticking with Luai – I just think that combination of Cleary, Luai and Yeo, it has stood up for a long time,” Cronk said on NRL360.

“In the 78th minute, when you need something and you need a reaction, those guys stand up. Nicho Hynes would handle it if picked.

“He is a great player, I have no doubt he would handle it. But in my mind, I would stick with Luai. Jarome probably has one (Origin) game, that’s the way it sits.

“He is aware of the pressure and if he falls over the first game, then Nicho would come in, but I would stick with Luai and see how he goes.”

Originally published as NRL Magic Round: Cooper Cronk praises Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett