Roosters coach Trent Robinson says Cooper Cronk faces brutal final fitness test
TACKLE Dylan Napa and you can play. Cooper Cronk faces the daunting task of dragging down giant front-rower Napa this morning to prove his grand final fitness.
Roosters
Don't miss out on the headlines from Roosters. Followed categories will be added to My News.
TACKLE Dylan Napa and you can play.
Champion halfback Cooper Cronk faces the daunting task of dragging down giant front-rower and teammate Napa this morning to prove his grand final fitness for the Sydney Roosters.
Cronk’s torn rotator cuff will get ultimate test with Napa and the Roosters’ heavyweight forwards all lining up to run at the courageous half-back who is desperately trying to play in his eighth grand final against his old club Melbourne Storm.
“He’ll have to be able to tackle, run and pass,” coach Trent Robinson told The Saturday Telegraph.
PREDICTIONS: Storm have three times support of Roosters
MATTY JOHNS: Two rascals hold key to GF victory
BUSTED: Cronk’s final test to play in decider
“And it won’t be Luke Keary running at him – it will be the forwards. Dylan Napa and all the big guys.”
“We’ll then have to make a decision and announce it an hour before the game. The good news is that he’s been improving all week.”
The Roosters are fully aware Storm coach Craig Bellamy will send his big men at Cronk in a full-on assault if he takes the field.
While the decision on the superstar playmaker will not be made public after this morning’s training session, internally Robinson wants his players to know the final make-up of the grand final side.
Hence the decision and fitness test this morning.
If Cronk plays he will join a handful of players who have overcome extraordinary pain to play and even win grand finals.
In 1997 Joey Johns climbed out of a hospital bed with a punctured lung, ignored medical advice, then somehow lifted the Newcastle Knights to a magnificent victory over Manly and their maiden title.
South Sydney legend John Sattler. The 1970 grand final against Manly and his extraordinary bravery to play with a broken jaw. Ridiculous courage.
In 1980 front-rower Shane Webcke played with a white cast to protect a broken left arm. His heroics lifted the Broncos to victory over the Roosters.
And big Sammy Burgess in the 2014 decider. The busted eye-socket from a head-on collision with fellow Englishman James Graham.
The same pain Cronk will have to endure for 80 brutal minutes.