Cronk in Storm’s firing line
COOPER Cronk helped build Melbourne’s NRL dynasty but the Storm is ready to target him if he plays in Sunday’s grand final.
Cronk’s race against the clock to beat a busted shoulder continued yesterday, after he said on Monday he could run out for the Sydney Roosters even if he was at 30 per cent.
How he would then fare in a grand final that will be built around defence would be crucial, even after his show of determination against South Sydney last week.
Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster, who will direct traffic on Cronk’s side of the field, said Melbourne would have to look to expose him.
“I’m a fair man and fair game. But in saying that, we will exploit that edge if Cooper’s not 100 per cent,” Munster said.
“I know he won’t be 100 per cent . . . he would be 80 per cent.
“But we just worry about ourselves and our game plan.
“But if Coops is in our game plan to try to make him make tackles then we’ll try to do our best to make him make tackles.”
Melbourne will have plenty of big bodies ready to target Cronk, including Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Jesse Brom- wich and Tim Glasby in the middle, as well as Joe Stimson, who will be running right at him off Munster’s shoulder.
Munster said that would not go to the extent of trying to injure Cronk, who won four grand finals at the Storm in a 14-year career there.
“Coops has been a great player and a great thing for this club and the game,” he said.
“We don’t go out to hurt anyone, but if we make a tackle or put some inside pressure or kick pressure or anything like that, you go and do it.
“But we won’t be going out and making any harsh or critical tackles on Coops at any time at all.”
Munsters comments come as assistant coach Jason Ryles warned Melbourne could not be sidetracked by making Cronk its No.1 tactic.
“We will play to our strengths, like we’ve done all year, and if Cooper happens to be in that zone for us to attack then so be,” Ryles said.
“But we won’t change our whole plan just to get at one person.”
None of that will come as any surprise to the Sydney Roosters No.7, who knows Melbourne’s diligence as well as anyone and is therefore fully aware he will be a target.
“I think I’m a spot every week,” Cronk said.
“I think every team runs at me, runs at every half, I think Souths did it on the weekend as well.
“If I’m there with my boots on and this Roosters jersey on, everyone can run at me because there’s nowhere to hide.”