Cronk closing in on ‘best buy’ club membership

COOPER Cronk is closing in on a place among the greatest Roosters signings – a stellar hit list whose top 10 includes Dally Messenger, Arthur Beetson, Brad Fittler and Ron Coote.

After 16 years with the Melbourne Storm, Cronk will push for inclusion to one of rugby league’s most exclusive clubs if he leads the Tricolours to the 2018 NRL premiership.

Signed specifically to win the Roosters a title, the 34-year-old halfback has been outstanding in recent weeks and looms as a contender for Dally M Halfback of the Year.

Roosters great Coote likened the halfback’s first year at Bondi to his own in 1972, when the Tricolours made it to a grand final.

“Cooper started this year a bit slow, just as most blokes who change clubs do,” Coote said.

“I certainly did when I came across to the Roosters from South Sydney.

“But as the year goes on, your combinations with the players around you improves. And that’s exactly what has happened with him at halfback ... he’s at the top of his game.”

Despite the hype surrounding his finals form, Cronk will have to take his team all the way to be considered for the Roosters’ “best buy” club.

When Sonny Bill Williams returned to the Roosters in 2013, The

Saturday Telegraph created a list of the club’s 10 greatest imports – with assistance from the Fox Sports Lab, retired players and a group of historians.

Now, five years on, we find ourselves revisiting the honour roll that has Messenger at No.1, with Beetson, Fittler, Coote and Bob Fulton rounding out our top five.

Then comes Russell Fairfax, John Brass and Williams, followed by Hugh McGahan and Tony Paskins.

The list’s strength is also evident in the calibre of the notable omissions: Adrian Morley, Craig Fitzgibbon, Elwyn Walters and Mark Harris.

So what about Cronk? While Coote lost the ’72 grand final, it seems nothing short of an NRL title will put Cooper on the list.