Cooper Cronk is still hurting from Melbourne’s grand final loss despite a year filled with accolades

COOPER Cronk is the current Dally M medallist and has just won the Four Nations. But the 32-year old is still hurting from Melbourne’s grand final loss.

Cooper Cronk celebrates beating the Kiwis in the Four Nations final.

THE best insight into what makes Cooper Cronk great is this little line.

“It could’ve been a little bit nicer if we won the grand final,” Cronk said. “That’s the world of rugby league, you win some you lose some.”

This comes from a man who has not only claimed another Dally M medal but just walked from the field as the Four Nations man of the series. All this at the age of 32. But Cronk is still hurting from Melbourne’s grand final loss to Cronulla.

It was the only blemish on an otherwise impeccable year by the Kangaroos halfback.

PLAYER RATINGS: Who starred, who flopped in Four Nations final

NO. 1: Rampant Roos thrash New Zealand

“I never envisaged this being the year it was, being the age I am,” Cronk said. “I still love my football. I love working hard. As long as I’ve got that passion anything is possible. It was good year personally and a great year collectively.”

Cooper Cronk, Mal Meninga, Cameron Smith and Darius Boyd with the Four Nations trophy.

Cronk’s performance comes as Mal Meninga hailed the Kangaroos spine as arguably the greatest he had seen. Darius Boyd finished with man of the match honours while Johnathan Thurston and Cameron Smith continued their dominance.

Cronk, who also backed injured Storm teammate Billy Salter to return to the Kangaroos side for next year’s World Cup, said the award was a “tremendous honour”.

“The one thing that gets lost, we seem to improve,” Cronk said of the spine. “We have not stagnated. Players buy into the style of football we want to play. We contribute and help each other be better players throughout our careers.

“Mal has done a tremendous job, including the staff, in achieving things we want to achieve. It’s one of the most enjoyable tours — on and off the field. We’re a united group off it and we’ve played some good football.

“To be anointed as player of the series — it’s a reflection of the team performance, but it’s a pretty special highlight in my career.”

Blake Ferguson was named the Kangaroos player of the tournament. For Boyd, he said he saved his best performance for last.

Blake Ferguson is tackled by David Fusitu'a during the Four Nations final.

“I was really happy,” Boyd said. “I didn’t think I played up to my standards the first few games. I was a bit disappointed with that. I had a chat to Mal through the week. I’m just glad I could saved my best game in the last one when it really counted. It was great to play a rugby league game at Anfield.

“We’ve underachieved the last few years. We really had a goal to get that trophy back and the no. 1 ranking.”

Originally published as Cooper Cronk is still hurting from Melbourne’s grand final loss despite a year filled with accolades