NRL Grand Final 2018: Roosters beat Storm 21-6 to be crowned premiers
IT will go down as one of the most heroic performances in grand final folklore — an 88kg halfback somehow pushing his broken body through the ferocity and physicality of a rugby league decider.
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- Munster’s grand final shocker
- Slater grateful despite sorry ending
- True extend of Cronk’s injury revealed
- Latrell proves he’s the boss
IT will go down as one of the most heroic performances in grand final folklore — an 88kg halfback somehow pushing his broken body through the ferocity and physicality of a rugby league decider.
It was pure theatre.
Sydney Roosters halfback Cooper Cronk — playing with a broken scapula — etched his name alongside the game’s most courageous grand final performances.
An inspirational Cronk guided his Sydney Roosters to a 21-6 win over Melbourne before 82,688 fans at ANZ Stadium. Roosters players celebrated wildly at full-time, the emotion and euphoria reducing hardened players to tears.
While teammates celebrated, Cronk sat on the interchange bench, alongside exhausted coach Trent Robinson and then trainer Matt King.
“It will all come out — he actually broke his scapular,” Roosters skipper Boyd Cordner said.
“That will go down in history.”
After helping the Storm to the 2017 premiership, one-armed bandit Cronk consigned his former teammate, close friend and retiring fullback Billy Slater to grand final defeat.
Cronk made just eight tackles all match. Melbourne just couldn’t get at him as he defended three in on the right edge, with teammate Mitch Aubusson his bodyguard.
“Everyone at this football has sacrificed something for me to be here,” Cronk said.
“I don’t take that responsibility lightly. It was my duty to do as much as I could to hopefully repay that faith.
“We didn’t know whether I was going to be able to play, it was a last minute thing.”
The Roosters halfback did, however, change his defensive position at times to confuse the Storm. Cronk made just two tackles in the opening 25 minutes.
“They did a good job of hiding him,” Storm skipper Cameron Smith said.
“He was out there guiding the team around. They essentially played with 12 players tonight.”
Weary and sore, Cronk came off in the 78th minute a hero.
Roosters fullback James Tedesco, who ran for more than 200 metres, said: “The extent of Cooper’s injuries are pretty bad. He is a tough bugger.”
Slater’s decorated career came to an end amid a chorus of boos as the star fullback was jeered every time he touched the ball.
The Storm have been in the past three grand finals, securing victory just once.
It completed a horror weekend for Victorian teams after Collingwood lost Saturday’s AFL grand final to West Coast.
Leading 18-0 at the break, the Roosters went on with the job in the second 40 minutes to give coach Trent Robinson his second NRL premiership, lifting him into an elite class of coaches.
And it was all done by a side that played with virtually 12 men and an on-field coach in Cronk, whose arm dangled by his side all match.
Somehow, though, Cronk iced and treated his bung shoulder all week, needled it pregame and ran out with it heavily strapped.
“He is a true champion — he played through a lot of pain tonight,” Roosters skipper Jake Friend said.
“To do what he did, he is a big part of why we are here. We love him. This is bloody awesome.”
Five-eighth Luke Keary was the Roosters’ play maker and kicker. He was unbelievable, kicking the match-sealing field goal in a man-of-the-match performance that earned him the Clive Churchill Medal.
Wearing jumper 23, the same as the legendary Michael Jordan and Shane Warne, Cronk’s impact was minimal — but his was mere presence was stirring.
Cronk was whacked off the ball, late and with intent when he did kick. There was an immediate sense of expectation and anticipation when it was officially announced Cronk would play.
His first kick came a minute later and he was crunched by Storm forward Joe Stimson. It was a painful blow. Storm star Cam Smith belted Cronk after a kick moments later, the pair appearing to have a minor scuffle on the ground.
“We always expected him to play,” Storm coach Craig Bellamy said.
“I know how tough and competitive he is. If we hung on to the ball we might have been able to get at him a little bit more.”
The Beast from East — Roosters centre Latrell Mitchell — was dominant again. He scored a try, kicked three goals, and haunted and taunted Storm opponent Will Chambers once again.
“To get the ring and trophy — it means everything to me,” Mitchell said.
The Storm started to create some opportunities midway through the second half but the Roosters defence held tight and scrambled. Winger Josh Addo-Carr finally scored for Melbourne, running 85 metres untouched after an intercept pass from Keary.
But it was all too late.
We hope you @sydneyroosters fans are as excited as Victor Radley is!#NRLGF#NRL pic.twitter.com/fWOVQWXERf
— NRL (@NRL) September 30, 2018
Roosters skipper Jake Friend may have a charge laid again him for a dangerous throw on Storm winger Suliasi Vunivalu in the 14th minute.
The Roosters’ early domination continued in the 12th minute when Mitchell stepped straight past his old adversary, Storm centre Will Chambers, to score his 17th try of the season.
Mitchell continued to taunt and haunt Chambers, the pair involved in a heated sideline stink during the 25th minute when Mitchell threw Chambers across the sideline.
And in the 37th minute, Roosters centre Joseph Manu scored a short side try after a swift pass from fullback James Tedesco.
Aubusson, who was named at halfback, started in the second-row, Isaac Lui back to the bench while Paul Momirovski the player omitted.
The Roosters have now won the [past 13 games when prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has played. It was a fitting exit for Roosters winger Blake Ferguson, who has signed with Parramatta.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS 21 (J Manu L Mitchell D Tupou tries L Mitchell 4 goals L Keary field goal) bt MELBOURNE 6 (J Addo-Carr try C Smith goal) at ANZ Stadium. Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ashley Klein. Crowd: 82,688
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