Cooper Cronk on backline struggles: ‘How long is a piece of string?’
COOPER Cronk was asked Thursday night about the Roosters’ backline and if it was taking longer to gel than initially planned.
Roosters
Don't miss out on the headlines from Roosters. Followed categories will be added to My News.
COOPER Cronk was asked Thursday night about the Roosters’ backline and if it was taking longer to gel than initially planned.
To which the halfback shrugged: “How long is a piece of string?”
Well, you could argue the length is 26 weeks. Or less if you want to make the NRL playoffs.
And while the Roosters have won now four of seven — including that gritty Thursday Night Football triumph over Canterbury — plenty of questions still hang over exactly how these early premiership favourites will look come September.
LATE MAIL: Murray out, Sharks trio a chance
PISSED OFF: Eels training turns bloody
SPORTS CON: Could Folau return to NRL?
Apart from scoring less than 10 points in three games this year, the Roosters also boast the most handling errors in the NRL.
According to Fox Sports Statistics, their 13.6 game average ahead of Melbourne (13.5), Cronulla (12.5), Manly (12) and North Queensland (11.5).
Yet Cronk says despite their mixed form over the opening quarter of the season, the Tricolours won’t be dictated to by outside forecasts.
“People had a level of expectation (for the Roosters),” he said. “And when you don’t meet that level, does it mean the expectation is reality? Not really.
“When comparing us to what you thought we might have been, yeah, it’s taking longer. We’ve probably been guilty in our performances too of thinking that we should’ve been in a better position than we were in games.
“Like against Souths (when beaten 26-14) ... you think ‘what’s going on?’.
“But the way you get up to win by 10 points, 14 points, or whatever is by focusing on the little things.
“Like control of a tackle, third man out quicker, adjusting your defensive line, and when I go to the line, it’s about ‘is the person a metre or a metre-and-a-half into the position he should be?’.
“Those are the things that make you play well. Not the expectation of others.”
Cronk added that the Roosters may also have been guilty of “lifting our eye level too far ahead”.
“But after the three and three start, we really lowered our eye level against Canterbury,” he said. “We need to focus on the things that make you a good football team, not jumping from zero to 100 straight away.”
Cronk also expressed excitement about playing his first Sydney Anzac Day game against St George Illawarra.
While unlikely to attend a Dawn Service — “I’ve tried it before but didn’t play well” — the Roosters halfback said it was important his side played the match in a manner benefiting the Anzacs.
“I’ve had the honour of playing in a few of these games with Melbourne so I understand the history of it,” he said. “What it means.
“The thing about playing on Anzac Day, we don’t pay the ultimate sacrifice ... but we better play the game in the right spirit for everyone involved.
“And when you’ve got a sold out Allianz Stadium, the ceremonies, the atmosphere, the build up, yeah, you do have niggles. There is a lot of passion and emotion.
“But you need to play it in the right spirit.
“You can go out there and play as hard and as physical as you want but remember that this game is bigger than you as an individual. There is more on the line in terms of honour and respect. So you don’t cross the line.”