Cronk to get GI pumping

COOPER Cronk plans to get Greg Inglis “asserting himself” into the game for the Origin decider while developing a more creative attack with Johnathan Thurston.

If anything should strike fear into the heart of the Blues it’s the fact that Cronk has returned to Queensland with a clear plan of how he wants to take advantage of the Maroons’ biggest strike weapons.

With Billy Slater out with a shoulder injury, Cronk has had to reconsider how the Maroons will attack and it’s likely to open the door for Inglis and Thurston to become even greater threats.

Cronk and Slater’s partnership was a major influence in how the Maroons played in attack, but it is a totally different dynamic with Inglis, simply because Cronk always adjusts his game to the strengths of others.

This means Cronk and Thurston are going to work more together and try to open some space up for Inglis to use his best assets.

“Greg’s greatest strength is his physical presence, so let’s get the ball in his hands – let’s get him asserting himself in the game, through the middle of the field, pushing up and offloads,” Cronk said.

“Bill’s greatest strength ( was) using his speed out the back to create extra numbers.

“He’s ( Inglis) done it before so Johnathan and I will take a bit more of a creative aspect with our structures in attack, hopefully pass the ball to one another a bit more and let GI just roam.”

In yesterday’s opposed training session Cronk and Thurston both had control of the team, with Inglis, Darius Boyd and Michael Morgan each spending time in key positions.

But when push comes to shove it will be Cronk and hooker Cameron Smith in control, their relationship crucial in big moments.

“It definitely helps in the moments, particularly in the big games, when you don’t really have to communicate,” Cronk said.

“It’s just a reaction, the body language, that I’m going to do this or that.”