Injured Cronk in doubt for Roosters
Sydney Roosters will give Cooper Cronk right up until kickoff to prove his fitness for the grand final, but it appears his chances are hanging by a thread after the club confirmed he had sustained a ‘‘severe’’ rotator cuff injury in their preliminary final victory.
Cronk is bidding to play in an eighth NRL grand final but his and the Roosters’ worst fears were realised yesterday and it appears the odds of their little general featuring in the decider have lengthened.
In a statement the Roosters said: ‘‘Scans have revealed that Cronk sustained a severe left rotator cuff injury. Rehabilitation on the injury has commenced and he will be given until kickoff to prove his fitness.’’
Cronk was sent for scans straight after the tri-colours’ gripping 12-4 preliminary final win over the Rabbitohs at Allianz Stadium in which the game’s most decorated halfback carried his left arm by his side for the entire second half.
Even the most simple tasks such as kicking for touch proved too much for Cronk, who put his body in front of a number of Rabbitohs defenders to somehow finish the match.
After the Roosters physios worked on him at halftime, he was visibly hobbled after coming back out and could barely raise his arm. At times he could only put his body in front of opposition ball carriers, hoping his teammates got there to help out.
In the end, the Roosters’ goalline defence proved the difference, with Souths enjoying 30 tackles inside the opposition red zone but unable to cross for a try.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson has Brisbane-bound halfback Sean O’Sullivan, 20, as a potential replacement for Cronk but the Roosters could also deploy a more experienced hand such as Ryan Matterson at fiveeighth and switch Luke Keary to halfback if needed.