The secret of Cooper Cronk’s greatness lies not just in his feats on the field but also in the greatness he inspires in those around him.
Ahead of his 323rd and final game in a Melbourne jersey — and potentially his last match ever after 14 seasons in first grade — Storm teammates have paid tribute to a man they say has left an indelible mark on their careers.
Sunday’s NRL grand final against North Queensland – Cronk’s seventh title decider – will be the end of an era for the Storm with no guarantee the club can sustain their dominance without him next year.
On the field, few influence matches like Cronk does.
Of the 322 clubs games he has played, he has won 228 – a touch over 70 per cent.
In State of Origin, that rate is even more pronounced, having won 16 of 22 – 72.7 per cent.
But not only is Cronk a winner, he inspires others around him to be winners too.
The phrase “ultimate professional” is used liberally by teammates talking about him.
His strict adherence to diet and dedication to training are legendary, his professionalism is held up as the gold standard and the clean-living Queenslander has never set a foot out of line.
Coach Craig Bellamy is known as the toughest task master in the game and is renowned for pushing his troops beyond what they believe are their limits.
Prop Jesse Bromwich says if it wasn’t for the likes of Cronk, Cameron Smith and Billy Slater setting an example, Bellamy would have found it difficult to get the rest of the squad to buy in.
“On those tough days and you look at the front line and leading the way it’s always those older guys – Cooper, Billy, Cameron,” Bromwich told AAP.
“They’re always leading the way in the fitness drills, the skills drills they’re never dropping balls and never dropping passes.
“They turn up every day and that’s why I believe they’ve been so good.
“They turn up to better themselves. Not just to go through the motions.”
From the moment centre Will Chambers stepped into first grade, Cronk had a pronounced effect on his career, including setting up his first try in his first game.
They went on to become Queensland and Australian teammates together but Chambers says it was the years that they were housemates that had the biggest influence.
“He’s been a role model for me on and off the field and the way I approach my footy,” Chambers said.
“It’ll be a sad day the day those boots are hung up for the last time. Whatever he does, he’s got my blessing.
“I idolise the guy, he’s been a great help to my career.
“I lived with him for three years so there’s no words which will describe the influence he’s had on my career.”
When rookie centre Curtis Scott came to the Storm at the start of last year from Cronulla, he came with a reputation.
Despite being chased by 11 clubs, he admits at times he’d fallen in with the wrong crowd and was, at one point, in danger of going down the wrong path.
Enter Cronk.
“I’m grateful I got that time with him,” Scott said.
“Cooper’s done a heap for me on and off the field. Some days he was like Dr Phil, giving me all this life advice about what I should and shouldn’t be doing.
“It was for the best. Sometimes I might have been going off track a little bit and he’d pull me aside and really look after me.
“We’ve had a couple of dinners at his joint.
“It was a bit daunting at first but now I just treat him like one of my mates.”
COOPER CRONK
* NRL – 322 games, 228 wins, 93 tries, 1 goal, 20 field goals, seven grand finals, 1 premiership
* Origin – 22 games, 16 wins, 3 tries, 2 field goals
* Tests – 33 games, 29 wins, 16 tries
* Accolades – Dally M (2013, 2016), Clive Churchill (2012), Golden Boot (2016), Dally M Halfback of the Year (2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016).
* Will play his 32nd finals match in the grand final – the equal-third most in history along with Ray Price and behind Cameron Smith (33) and Darren Lockyer (35).
* Will play his seventh grand final, the first to achieve the feat since Kevin Walters in 2000.
