NRL grand final: The on-field coach in number reserved for greatness
Cronk’s contribution to the Roosters’ halftime lead is two tackles, nine passes and endless chatter. He’s basically an on-field coach
The one-armed bandit walks into ANZ Stadium about an hour before Sydney Roosters officials are due to hit the button on the email to NRL headquarters that confirms the 17 players to take part in the grand final.
In this week-long game of ducks, drakes, smoke and mirrors when it comes to the availability of Cooper Cronk, the Roosters trust no one. They hold their official line-up until the final seconds.
Cronk has his game face on; it’s 5.38pm. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’s on for the game. The Roosters’ email is about to go viral.
Cronk walks to the dressing room and puts his bag down as if he’s going to kit up. He’s either a goer or he’s the best Australian actor since Heath Ledger played the Joker. Putting on a Roosters jersey is a bit of a giveaway. But you never know. The Roosters’ little rocket man may be preparing to be the mascot for all we really know.
Slipping into his boots seals the verdict. The team sheet is delivered at 6.26pm, it’s announced to the crowd, “Cooper Cronk will play!”
“It’s a fair test of his character but if anyone could have done it, it was Cooper,” Roosters coach Trent Robinson says. “He was out Friday morning. He rang me Friday night and said, ‘I think I can do this.’ It’s a big call but it’s Cooper, he’s the toughest guy mentally.”
The Roosters win 21-6. Cronk plays hide-and-seek. The Storm can’t get their hands on him. “Cooper at 30 per cent, we want him out on the field,” Roosters captain Boyd Cordner says. “That will go down in history.”Cronk wears No 23, the number made famous by Michael Jordan, David Beckham, LeBron James and Shane Warne, the number reserved for greatness. It’s another act in a week of pure theatre.
He runs out while barely moving his injured left arm. He can’t embrace his team-mates during the national anthem. He takes seven minutes to touch the ball. He’s talking more than Ray Hadley on a morning shift.
Cronk makes two tackles in the first half. He’s tackled twice, once by Joe Stimson and once by Cam Smith. The Storm captain hangs on to him and they roll around like they’re having a mud wrestle.
Cronk’s contribution to the Roosters’ 18-0 halftime lead is two tackles, nine passes shovelled as if he’s throwing a medicine ball, two kicks and endless chatter. His left hand stays low while his right fist is raised and pumped. He’s basically an on-field coach. Cronk can settle into his delegation duties because his No 6 Luke Keary is filling the breach. Keary is outstanding.
Keary receives the Clive Churchill Medal as man of the match but in years to come, this will be remembered as Cronk’s night. He never really escaped from the shadow of Smith and Billy Slater at the Storm. Last night, he trumped them.
With two minutes and 14 minutes remaining, he’s assisted from the field, barely able to walk.
“Everyone at this football club has sacrificed something for me to be here and it was my duty to do whatever I could,” Cronk says.
The Roosters celebrate wildly and all Cronk can do is sit in a plastic chair on the sideline. His head is bowed. All you can see is the number on his back. The No 23.
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