Coach praises Cronk’s drive

MELBOURNE coach Craig Bellamy freely admits Cooper Cronk is among the best halfbacks he has coached and singles out one trait that puts him ahead of all Storm playmakers.

“I just love – always have – his competitive nature. He’s got wonderful skills and a great footy brain. But the thing I love the most is that he is a real competitor,” said Bellamy, who is preparing his team for tomorrow’s decider against North Queensland.

From the seven grand finals Bellamy has coached since taking the reins at Storm in 2003, Cronk is the one constant in those matches, but he leaves the Victoria club at season’s end.

The other two members of the ‘big three’ – Cameron Smith and Billy Slater – missed the 2008 and 2016 grand finals through suspension and shoulder surgery respectively, and have six each. But like Cronk, they made their NRL debuts under Bellamy.

Smith and Cronk have each reached the ‘300 club’ milestone alongside him.

However, Cronk is leaving Melbourne for Sydney to be with fiancee Tara Rushton.

If the Storm was an NBA team they might look to retire Cronk’s No.7 jersey because of his success with the club.

That can’t happen but it doesn’t stop Bellamy from reflecting on the 33-year- old’s contribution, whether or not he plays on in 2018.

“He’s as good as any halfback

I’ve coached,” the grand final-winning coach said.

“I think he’s the best halfback Storm has ever had and that’s no sleight on Matt Orford or Brett Kimmorley,” the 58-year-old said of both men who won premierships – Orford with Manly in 2008 and Kimmorley with Storm in 1999.

“But Cooper has been so great for us for a long period of time. While he has been our halfback, the club has had a pretty good run.

“He’s the driver at times of our attack. But he’s more than willing to get in there and do other things (in defence) probably a lot of other halfbacks aren’t prepared to do.”

Cronk will add to his 33 Tests for the Kangaroos at next month’s World Cup.

He also has 22 games for Queensland. That longevity and quality could mostly be attributed to Cronk’s competitiveness, Bellamy said.

“Ever since he was a young kid he was competitive. And he hasn’t lost that edge. If anything it’s grown stronger.”