Adelaide to host Cronk’s return
COOPER Cronk’s much- hyped first meeting with his former club Melbourne next season won’t be played in front of either NRL club’s fan bases after the Sydney Roosters opted to play their home game in Adelaide.
The clubs clash for the first time in round 16 and unless the two NRL powerhouses meet in the 2018 finals, the Friday night Adelaide match is the only chance to see the dual Dally M Medallist go up against his superstar former teammates Cameron Smith and Billy Slater.
After 14 seasons with the Storm, Cronk signed a two- year deal with the Roosters after shifting to Sydney.
The Roosters took their home game against the Storm to Adelaide Oval for the first time this year and declared it a huge success.
They won a 25- 24 thriller thanks to a Mitchell Pearce extra- time field goal, with a big crowd of more than 21,000 turning out in the AFL- obsessed city.
The Roosters are committed to playing a match annually in Adelaide – though not necessarily against Melbourne, which makes the decision not to play at Allianz Stadium a massive missed marketing opportunity.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson didn’t address the Cronk factor in a statement.
“We’re excited to be returning to Adelaide Oval,” Robinson said.
“There was a great atmosphere at our game on the Oval in 2017, and the match definitely delivered in both quality and theatre, so we’re looking forward to seeing that support continue to grow over the next few years.”