COOPER’S THE MAN FOR THE MOMENT
COOPER Cronk was brought to Sydney to win the Roosters the competition – and he may just deliver.
Set to go head-to-head with Adam Reynolds tonight in an intriguing clash of the halves, Cooper is just two wins away from delivering the Roosters a premiership in his first year with the club. Wouldn’t that be some achievement?
Cooper has been under immense pressure this year. I can’t even comprehend the level of expectation he has been carrying, moving to Sydney and being tasked with doing a better job than former club favourite Mitchell Pearce. It was some ask.
But Cooper is on the cusp of delivering. He showed everyone what he could do when the Roosters toppled the Sharks to win a spot in the grand final qualifier. That win had Cronk’s fingerprints all over it.
While I reckon I would struggle with the pressure of making a move like he did – a one-club man leaving Melbourne to join the Roosters – it is like water of a duck’s back for Cooper.
I remember how much pressure I thought was on me when I left the Bulldogs in 2004 to join the Cowboys. I thought I owed them a premiership and I struggled with the pressure at times. But not Cooper – he has ice in his veins.
I don’t think he feels the pressure at all. He has experience, poise and skill. He is a player that can get a team, firstly to the front, and then close it out.
I think he will get the job done tonight in what will be another downto-the-wire final against the Rabbitohs.
But it will be no easy feat, especially after Latrell Mitchell’s suspension.
Mitchell has been the Roosters’ go-to man in big games this year. He is the type of player who will put on a big play out of the blue. You can just pass him the ball and he will create. The Roosters will miss him. The Rabbitohs will be looking for another big game from Adam Reynolds.
The No.7 got the Rabbitohs home last week, kicking three clutch field goals. He is beginning to own the big moments and that is what you need from your playmaker in these games.
I think he wants the ball in his hands when the match is on the line and that is a good thing for South Sydney.
He proved himself as a matchwinner last week and he will need to do it again tonight for the Rabbitohs to qualify for the grand final.
Reynolds is also taking the ball to the line now in a move that is creating more opportunities for his edges.
Over the past couple of year he has been sitting back and shifting the ball early. He hasn’t been going to the line and committing defenders.
Opposition teams can’t slide off and make defensive decisions when Reynolds digs deep and that has been a big improvement in his game.
So this one will be close, but I expect Cronk to make the difference.
JT’s TIP: The Roosters