Clubs drop out of Cronk race
THE aggressive chase for Kangaroos halfback Cooper Cronk has petered out after Parramatta withdrew yesterday and Cronulla revealed they too had “dropped off”.
Three clubs had cleared $ 1 million in their salary caps for a possible tilt at Cronk but the Sydney Roosters are the last standing and are expected to make an announcement soon.
Sharks coach Shane Flanagan wouldn’t categorically pull out of the race but conceded he hadn’t spoken to Cronk’s management recently.
“We haven’t spoken or had any communication with his manager for three months – we’re not in there punching,” Flanagan said.
“I don’t even know whether they are interested or that we’re interested. Things like this are a marriage. He’s got to want to play for us and we’ve got to want him to play for us.’’
Eels CEO Bernie Gurr said his club would not pursue Cronk. THE Bati are on a World Cup giant- killing mission with Broncos prop Korbin Sims declaring Fiji fear nothing but God.
Fiji have bunkered down in Brisbane ahead of their opening match against the US in Townsville on Saturday night.
The Bati squad features twot time Dally M Medal winner J Jarryd Hayne at five- eighth a and will be captained by Wests T Tigers weapon Kevin Naiqama.
The Sims brothers – Korbin ( left) and Ashton – will lead their engine room with Parramatta recruit Kane Evans.
The NRL’s top tryscorer in 2017 – Storm flyer Suliasi Vunivalu – will be on one wing with former Kangaroos ace Akuila Uate on the other.
The Bati made it to the 2013 World Cup semi- finals, where they were embarrassed 64- 0 by Australia and Korbin said the deeply religious squad had set high expectations.
“Our ultimate goal is to win the World Cup and we don’t want to do anything less than win the World Cup,” he said.
“We’re pretty confident with the time we’ve had together and players we’ve pulled together. There is a lot of talent, strike power, skill and aggression. There is lots of passion and pride in this side. We’ve got a lot of faith in not only our ability but also God.”
TRAVIS MEYN