Hamstring injury puts Cronk out

THE Sydney Roosters will get a glimpse of what a post-cooper Cronk era could look like when Lachlan Lam deputises for the injured champion today.

Cronk was yesterday ruled out of their round-two clash with Manly after experiencing hamstring tightness following their round-one loss to South Sydney.

The NRL granted the Roosters an exemption to include Lam, who wasn’t included in their 21-man squad named on Tuesday.

The son of former Roosters halfback Adrian will make his first grade debut six months after re-signing with the club as the heir to Cronk’s No.7 jumper. It was tipped the 20year-old would follow his dad to Wigan when the exQueensland representative took up the job over the summer. Instead Lachlan was earmarked as the future after the club opted to allow fellow youngster Sean O’sullivan to move to Brisbane.

The 35-year-old Cronk comes off-contract at the end of the year, however has made no final decision on whether he will hang up the boots. Lam’s shot at Lottoland will be an early litmus test for the defending premiers, who lost their season-opener to the Rabbitohs.

Speaking before news of Cronk’s injury was announced, Robinson admitted his team were overly eager in their first outing of the season.

Robinson also defended his team following criticism of their players following their heated battle with the Rabbitohs.

New signing Angus Crichton was branded a “traitor”, centre Latrell Mitchell admitted to being baited, while Wayne Bennett called the Roosters “immature”.

Robinson said he wanted his players to play within the rules of the game, but to also have the freedom to express themselves

The match marks the return of Des Hasler as Sea Eagles coach at Lottoland for the first time since 2011, where his side was undefeated in 10 matches.