Why Philadelphia’s Super Bowl hero Alshon Jeffery gives hope to Cooper Cronk GF miracle
PHILADELPHIA Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffery finished the last NFL season with 69 receptions, 12 touchdowns and a Super Bowl ring while playing with the same injury as Cooper Cronk.
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SYDNEY Roosters halfback Cooper Cronk would have to be “super human” to recover for Sunday’s grand final against Melbourne, according to a leading sports physiotherapist.
And Cronk’s looming withdrawal could force Roosters coach Trent Robinson to gamble with one-game rookie Sean O’Sullivan as his halfback for the big game.
Physio Brien Seeney, who is well known on social media as the NRL Physio, said Cronk’s “severe” left rotator cuff injury usually ensured a player would miss four to six weeks.
Seeney agreed it would take a “miracle” for Cronk to recover within six days.
Cronk sustained the injury during his side’s gritty 12-4 win over South Sydney in Saturday night’s preliminary final.
After the Roosters issued a statement claiming the injury was “severe”, Seeney said: “They quoted it as severe. Usually when you’re talking severe, you’re talking complete rupture. So you’ve got minor, which is grade one, moderate is grade two and then severe, which is grade three.
“He is at long odds to make the grand final. If it’s a minor rotator cuff injury, you’re looking around two to four weeks. It would be an absolutely super human effort for him to play.
“If it’s a partial tear, it can be anywhere from a month to two months. For a severe injury, where there’s a full rupture, the usual practice is surgery with a four- to six-month recovery.
“The only chance I could see him playing, at the very least, is his shoulder being very, very heavily strapped.
“Even if he does play, the function and stability would be diminished.
“In other words, he wouldn’t be playing at 100 per cent. There is no doubt if this happened mid-season, he would be missing time but because it’s a grand final, you take more risks for those big games.”
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At best, Cronk is less than a 30 per cent chance of playing but Seeney said the Roosters star could draw hope from Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, who played the entire 2017-18 NFL season with a torn rotator cuff.
Playing through constant pain, Jeffery finished the season with 69 receptions and 12 touchdowns, including a clutch long-ball score in the Eagles’ 41-33 win over the New England Patriots in the Superbowl.
“Cases like this give Cooper Cronk and the Roosters hope,” Seeney posted in one of his @nrlphysio tweets.
“Possible if sever injury to only 1 rotator cuff muscle (other 3 are healthy) & function can be regained that he can play (with risk of further injury). Still to do it all in 1 week would be incredible.”
Cases like this gives Cooper Cronk & Roosters hope. Possible if severe injury to only 1 rotator cuff muscle (other 3 are healthy) & function can be regained that he can play (with risk of further injury). Still to do it all in 1 week would be incrediblehttps://t.co/lsNmv8XBoQ
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) September 23, 2018
Should he play strapped and needled, Melbourne would no doubt send 115kg forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona directly at Cronk all game.
It appears Cronk will have surgery after the grand final — whether he plays or not — before a four- to six-month recovery.
O’Sullivan has played just one game in the NRL, in round 18 this year against Gold Coast at Cbus Stadium. He scored a controversial try. He has been Cronk’s deputy all season.
Robinson could also move Luke Keary to halfback and name Ryan Matterson at five-eighth. Mitch Cornish is another option.
O’Sullivan is certain to be named in a 21-man Roosters side announced on Tuesday.
A Roosters statement regarding Cronk read: “Cooper Cronk was taken for scans at full-time after sustaining a shoulder injury during the first half of the match.
“Scans have revealed that Cronk sustained a severe left rotator cuff injury. Rehabilitation on the injury has commenced and he will be given until kick off to prove his fitness.”
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