Cronk, Smith in frosty exchange
For more than a decade they ruled the NRL as two-thirds of Melbourne’s big three but Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith are seemingly no longer on speaking terms.
The pair were tight – on and off the field – as they dominated the NRL and State of Origin but the relationship between the star duo has apparently all but disintegrated.
Rumours of Smith and Cronk no longer seeing eye-to-eye have been swirling since the champion halfback announced he was leaving the Storm – after 14 years of service – to join the Sydney Roosters from the start of the 2018 season.
And the speculation the relationship is on the rocks will continue to grow following an awkward exchange during the post-match handshakes after the Melbourne Storm’s 9-8 win over Cronk’s new side at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
There were no sour grapes following the loss for Cronk who happily hugged his way through his former Storm teammates.
There was laughter, handshakes and plenty of cuddles as he made his way down the line of the Storm players.
Friday night’s clash was the first time Cronk has confronted his former Storm teammates this season. All the fluffy catch-ups went out the window when Cronk approached his former Storm, Queensland and Australian skipper.
His ice-cold reaction towards Smith could not have been more obvious.
Smith, who had just kicked the winning field goal, stuck out his
hand which Cronk did shake but he quickly kept walking and most certainly did not reciprocate Smith’s pat on the pack.
There was apparently no words exchanged and the look on Smith’s face was one of resignation that the close bond between the pair was now over.
If the pair were looking to hose down their apparent feud, Friday night’s lack of affection was hardly a great piece of acting.
Once past Smith, Cronk was again friendly and chatty towards the rest of the Storm side.
He was joking with Storm coach Craig Bellamy and the third member of the big three Billy Slater.
Eagle-eyed fans were quick to spot the awkward exchange and social media was buzzing with banter about the apparent falling out.
At the time Cronk announced he was leaving the Storm, he said he was moving to Sydney to be closer to his then-fiancee and now wife, Fox Sports presenter Tara Rushton.
Smith did not attend Cronk’s wedding in Sydney at the end of last season and there was speculation that he was unhappy about the star halfback walking away from Melbourne.
Reports suggest he was invited to the wedding.
Smith never confirmed why he did not attend but the Storm put out a party line just before Christmas stating Smith missed the nuptials because of an already planned family holiday.
The revelations of a breakdown in the relationship between Cronk and Smith follow similar speculation of a rift between current Storm teammates Smith and Slater that surfaced earlier this year.