Cooper Cronk is a Melbourne Storm legend but his Bondi roots run deep
COOPER Cronk is a Melbourne Storm legend but he has the blood of generations of Eastern Suburbs sporting history pumping through his veins.
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COOPER Cronk is a Melbourne Storm legend but he has the blood of generations of Eastern Suburbs sporting history pumping through his veins.
While Cronk’s signing with the Sydney Roosters made headlines this week, The Daily Telegraph can reveal the amazing history of family members making their own mark on the Bondi sporting landscape.
Cronk’s father, mother and grandfather are well-known Eastern Suburbs sportspeople, meaning Cooper is a third-generation Bondi star.
His father, Rick Cronk, was a Bondi United rugby league star from the late 1960s to mid-1970s before playing in junior representative teams for the Roosters.
He was part of Easts’ 1973 President’s Cup side that featured future first graders Gary Metcalfe, Des O’Reilly, Greg Townsend and John Rheinberger, who was a famous last-minute inclusion in the Roosters’ 1975 grand final-winning team.
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Unlike his son, Rick Cronk was a utility back who came up through the Roosters’ SG Ball and Jersey Flegg sides.
He also made the front cover of Bondi United’s 1974 yearbook and, in the same year, was named Bondi United’s A-grade best and fairest.
In 1981, he accepted the club’s President’s Award.
Bondi locals still call Cooper “Little Rick” when they see him.
A shoulder injury cut short Rick’s footy career before he went into coaching. He also did some surf lifesaving at Bondi.
He moved to Brisbane, where Cooper was born, effectively ruining NSW’s Origin hopes for years.
Cronk’s mother Wendy excelled at several sports but was a well-known basketballer in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs during the mid-1970s.
Cronk is likely to be offered a role on Trent Robinson’s staff once he retires. By taking up the clipboard, he could follow the lead of his grandfather Les, who coached the Bondi United Boilers softball team.
Cronk’s red, white and blue pedigree is certain to further enhance his standing with Roosters fans.
Bondi United president Alan Lewis said Cooper’s sporting prowess came from Rick and Wendy.
“Wendy was involved in our basketball teams and Rick was there on the footy field,” Lewis said. “Cooper certainly inherited the sporting genes.
“It’s good to have Cooper at the Roosters. It’s great when a big name returns to its roots. From a Bondi United point of view, it’s great.”
Lewis also spoke highly of Rick’s ability as a utility.
“He was a little bit older than me but I certainly remember Rick as a player,” Lewis said. “Rick was a good footballer in his day.
“Rick played in the backline, half, five-eighth, in the centres. He moved around a bit on the field. He had some ability.
“He came through the junior rep ranks back then, the Roosters SG Ball, Jersey Flegg and then President’s Cup in 1973.
“Injury curtailed his football career and then he took on a coaching role and had a fair bit of success with a variety of age groups at Bondi United.
“Rick was a very good clubman for Bondi United.”
The Daily Telegraph contacted Rick but he preferred not to comment.