Retiring Cronk reveals plan to beat nostalgia
IF Cooper Cronk’s bottom lip starts to quiver this week, his last in the NRL, he knows exactly what he’s going to do.
“If I feel myself getting nostalgic or a little bit emotional, I’ll go have a look at a computer screen and focus on what I need to do,” Cronk says. “Because at the end of the day, emotion isn’t going to make me tackle, run, pass well. It’s going to be the fact that I need to apply myself to the skills.”
The retiring Cronk will look to bow out with yet another premiership when the Sydney Roosters face Canberra in Sunday’s grand final. It is also Cronk’s ninth grand final appearance from stints at Melbourne and the Roosters, equalling great Ron Coote (Souths/Roosters) with the third most in NRL history.
Cronk has won five of those deciders, however two with the Storm were infamously stripped because of salary cap cheating. Nevertheless, a fourth premiership ring would undoubtedly be the perfect finish to the career of a man widely considered one of the best halfbacks in history.
Cronk, 35, concedes it’ll be hard to keep his emotions in check. “I don’t think anyone’s immune to understanding what goes into a football game. Emotion can be a good thing,” he says.
“(But) it can also be a really bad thing if you don’t handle it well. I’m an emotional guy naturally, but hopefully, my experiences allow me to deal with it, put it in its box and focus on what I really need to do.”
Despite the curtains about to draw on his time in the game, Cronk refuses to let the build-up to the decider be about his career.
“I will not make it about me for a second of time,” he said.
The contest also presents the former Kangaroos and Queensland State of Origin representative with a shot at what would be a third straight premiership.
He won with Melbourne in 2017, then the Roosters last year, becoming the first player to do so at two different clubs since Johnny Mayes in 1973-74.
It comes after knocking out the Storm on Saturday, where he exchanged words with former coach Craig Bellamy and teammate Cameron Smith at full time.
“It was just about saying thank you and showing a deep admiration for one another because without Craig Bellamy, I’m not the guy I am today,” he said.
Cronk also says there is no other player he respects more than Smith.
“He’s changed the way the game’s played at hooker. And he’s inspired the next generation of players,” he said.
“He’s played a big part in the very good memories I’ve had in my career.”