‘Never watched’: Cooper Cronk’s advice for struggling Bulldogs recruits

NRL legends Matty Johns and Cooper Cronk have given a word of advice to star Bulldogs recruits who have left elite teams.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 20: Matt Burton, Josh Addo-Carr and Matt Dufty of the Bulldogs celebrate a defensive effort during the round two NRL match between the Canterbury Bulldogs and the Brisbane Broncos at Accor Stadium, on March 20, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

NRL legends Cooper Cronk and Matty Johns have given a word of advice to Bulldogs recruits Matt Burton and Josh Addo-Carr after departing elite teams.

Both players left teams who are currently flying, sitting first and second on the ladder, and have been destroying their opposition, highlighted by the Storm’s 70-10 rout over the Warriors.

Both Cronk and Johns have in the past left successful clubs to ply their trade elsewhere and having experienced what the Bulldogs pair are going through, gave some advice on the Matty Johns podcast.

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“Question, I am thinking about Josh last night, I know it was his decision to leave,” Johns said.

“That must have stung a little bit watching Xavier Coates and Nick Meaney play.”

“I obviously left the Melbourne Storm… and the one thing I can sort of advise for Josh (Addo-Carr) and even Burton from the Panthers,” Cronk said.

“You go from winning competitions, being successful, playing in multiple finals and big games, to then really scratching every week to get a victory.”

Cronk left the high-flying Melbourne Storm to join the Roosters and explained his strategy for not looking back at his teammates performances.

“The one that sort of helped me in my transition, I never watched a Melbourne Storm game in the two years I played for the Roosters,” Cronk said.

Matt Burton went from the high-flying Panthers to the Bulldogs. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)

Josh Addo-Carr moved from the Storm to the Bulldogs. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

“Because I just knew that they were going to be good and I didn’t want to look back in the mirror and think oh this could have been, this might be.

“Even like in the first you eight or ten games at the Roosters I think in 2019, we weren’t going so well.

“I still didn’t watch, because I knew the Melbourne Storm were flying and once you make that decision, you have to really look forward, you can’t be looking back in the rear vision mirror because your thinking can throw you off your trajectory.

“You start thinking, imagine if I did this or, I could be playing in this game, so I think for Josh and Matt Burton, they really need to knuckle down and look forward.”

Johns left the Knights to ply his trade for Wigan, and the following season the Newcastle side won the premiership.

While it is hard to look back and watch your former team excel, Johns believes there is a deeper loss when moving from your former club.

“You feel for young Matt, he is watching that Penrith side… and those really top teams they aren’t just teams they are family,” Johns said.

“When I left Newcastle and went away, because we were so tight it didn’t hurt me, it was almost trauma, it felt like I was cast out from the family.”

Originally published as ‘Never watched’: Cooper Cronk’s advice for struggling Bulldogs recruits