Cooper Cronk suitors line up in spades

PARRAMATTA has reportedly made a late play for superstar Cooper Cronk — but club legend Peter Sterling wants to sink the offer.

Where you going, Cooper?

OUTGOING Melbourne Storm halfback Cooper Cronk has reportedly forced three clubs to restructure their affairs as speculation surrounding the 33-year-old’s next season grows.

The Daily Telegraph reported the Sydney Roosters, Parramatta Eels and Cronulla Sharks have all made moves to accommodate the national halfback within their salary caps.

The Eels will reportedly use the money left available after star winger Semi Radradra’s departure, while the Roosters ($650,000) and the Sharks ($1 million) fielded sides significantly under the salary cap last year.

The Eels link to Cronk surprised club legend Peter Sterling, who on Monday declared he doesn’t want his club to sign the Kangaroos playmaker.

With Corey Norman and Mitchell Moses both signed with the Eels through to the end of the 2019 season, Sterling says Cronk’s potential addition would disrupt the pair’s development.

He said he sees Moses and Norman as the club’s long-term playmaking combination.

There’s no room for Cronk.

“I don’t think they need Cooper Cronk,” Sterling told Triple M’s Dead Set Legends.

“To me the future of Parramatta for many seasons to come is Corey Norman and Mitchell Moses. The improvement they made in a very short period of time in the second half of this season under the coaching of Brad Arthur was fantastic.

“They finished top four. I don’t think you’re messing with that combination. You’re getting them to play as much football as you can together.

“They are the future No. 6 and No. 7 of the Eels and I would hope they’re going to be around alongside each other for many seasons to come.”

He said the Eels would be better off chasing a world-class front-rower.

He believes the Roosters would also be better off adding star forwards to their roster — at Cronk’s expense — because the Bondi club already has a star-studded spine and a firing playmaking pair in Mitchell Pearce and Luke Keary.

The Roosters are firming as favourites to pin Cronk’s 2018 signature, but chatter regarding long-time halfback Mitchell Pearce’s place in the club has turned a few heads.

NRL legend Steve Roach blasted talk surrounding Pearce’s potential to be shafted by Sydney, slapping down Cronk’s credentials in a spray.

“I don’t think Cooper could teach Mitchell anything to tell you the honest truth. I’d be a bit taken aback if I was him. He’s run the Roosters for 10 years (and) won a comp,” he told Fairfax media.

‘I don’t think Cooper could teach Mitchell anything.’

“I’d be a little bit dark. I think it’s a big kick in the guts. What it’s saying is he can’t get the job done. I don’t agree with it.”

Pearce may potentially make the move to hooker to slot in Cronk, but reports claim the 28-year-old has been kept in the dark about the Roosters’ plans.

“That’s one thing our game is missing at the moment is people being upfront,” Roach said.

“If they were going to go down that track they should have had the decency to ring them and say, ‘This is what we’re thinking of doing’. They’re 10-year players there. It’s not everyday you get 10-year players.”

Roach also said life could become a lot harder for Cronk outside of the Storm and away from his usual Cameron Smith-Billy Slater combination.

“Cooper Cronk is a great player, there is no doubt about that,” he said. “But he hasn’t tried to see how he goes without those other two blokes.”

NRL great Mark Geyer said the best result would be if Cronk made the move to Cronulla.

“I think he’ll play at the Roosters,” he said on Triple M’s The Grill Team. “I really do. But I think the Sharks could do with him. Parramatta have got their young halves.”

Cronk has already bought a home in Mosman on Sydney’s North Shore to be closer to fiancee Tara Rushton, meaning the Eastern suburbs-based Roosters would be the easiest option for travel.