Image of Cooper Cronk appears to confirm star halfback is set to miss NRL grand final against former club Melbourne
IT’S game day and both teams are putting the finishing touches on grand final preparations. But do these exclusive pictures reveal something Melbourne will look to exploit?
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IT’S 11.22am. Allianz Stadium. The day before the NRL grand final. The image no Sydney Roosters fan ever wanted to see.
A picture of despair, superstar Cooper Cronk drags a footy at his feet as 20 metres away, the Roosters’ entire squad train in formation ahead of the biggest day of their careers.
The Roosters’ champion halfback will wake on Sunday morning needing a miracle to overcome an injured shoulder — the full extent of which has been kept secret from even club staff members.
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Cronk is attempting to become the first player in 44 years to feature in eight grand finals, as he tries to face former club the Melbourne Storm at ANZ Stadium.
But as these exclusive pictures show, Cronk could be forced to watch from the sidelines as he did on Saturday with back-up half Ryan Matterson and utility Victor Radley preparing to take his jumper.
For almost the entire Roosters’ final training run of the year, Cronk watched from behind the dead-ball line alongside assistant coaches Matt King and Craig Fitzgibbon.
Cronk favoured his good right-arm for almost everything, including when asked to scoop up a ball rolling his way.
The grand final hitout lasted 36 minutes and it provided the greatest example we’ve seen of Cronk’s natural career transition into coaching. Keeping his distance from the majority of the playing group, Cronk picked his moments to wander past certain players and offer a word of advice.
If the Roosters camp are foxing — and they may well be after Cronk was retained in the team’s 19-man squad overnight ahead of their clash with the Storm — they were going to extraordinary lengths by resting him from the session.
Following a brief huddle and final chat, Roosters coach Trent Robinson’s two obvious halves options then worked on their attacking plays with five-eighth Luke Keary.
The safe bet is with Matterson, who boasts experience in the halves.
The 23-year-old, who will join the Wests Tigers next year, was the first-choice replacement for Keary when he missed three matches due to injury through rounds 21-23, this year.
Six-foot-four and 103kg, Matterson has the size and skill to trouble Melbourne.
Radley — a Clovelly Crocodile and fan favourite — is crafty enough and tough enough to provide a quality foil for Keary.
Both Matterson and Radley were noticeably busy as they combined with Keary.
One candidate who can be removed is 20-year-old halfback Sean O’Sullivan.
Robinson cut O’Sullivan and Nat Butcher last night — leaving Cronk in his final 19-man squad.
Shock prospect Mitchell Aubusson remained named in Cronk’s no. 7 jersey.
What was obvious on Saturday was the kicking demand on Keary — without Cronk beside him. The cheeky five-eighth rolled a number of left-side high and low kicks into the in-goal for winger Daniel Tupou before finishing the session with a series of field-goal attempts.
Centre Latrell Mitchell, back from suspension, was one of the first players to arrive at the Roosters’ HQ at around 8.30am Saturday and again, he was one of the first players to bounce out on to a sun-soaked Allianz Stadium.
Having watched the club battle with their goalkicking in his absence, Mitchell concluded the session with a string of goal-kicks from all angles.
Cronk, who reportedly held a secret solo session at North Sydney Oval on Friday, wandered up the tunnel at 11.47am as his teammates cooled down and stretched out on the Allianz Stadium pitch for the last time.
Storm fullback Billy Slater admits Cronk is the man the Storm fear.
“He would be drawing confidence that he knows how to get the job done. His Roosters teammates will be drawing confidence from it as well,’’ Slater said.
“They know how many times he has been to a grand final and lifted the trophy up. Cooper has continually delivered in the big moments.’’
The Roosters were bound for Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday night, heading into camp directly next door to where their opposition will also base themselves.
Craig Bellamy’s Storm completed their preparation just after noon at ANZ Stadium.
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