We may have been premature, as may he himself have been, when we reported that Cooper Cronk would make the 2017 Telstra NRL Premiership competition the last of his storied career.
Cronk is moving to Sydney at season’s end to be with his fiancé, and it would seem that commuting to play with the Melbourne Storm rightfully would not appeal to someone of Cronk’s age and accomplishments.
The most recent suggestion is that, in actuality, Cronk only suggested that this might be his last season in the NRL.
With the Sydney clubs apparently settled on their halves for the time being and next season, would any want Cronk, or for that matter, be able to afford him?
Yet, if the right scenario was to unfold, it is within the realm of possibility that Cronk could find himself a spot on one of the Sydney clubs in 2018.
South Sydney is one club that is not ignoring the possibilities. Much of it all could hinge on what happens with James Maloney of the Cronulla Sharks. Maloney apparently feels that premierships do not buy many groceries, so he is unhappy with his contract. The Sharks apparently do not feel any pressing urgency to give Maloney the upgrade he sought.
Maloney has one more year with Cronulla, but if the Rabbitohs were to table a two or three year offer to him, he might seek to be freed by the Sharks, which would give the Sharks some cap space to have a run at Cronk.
Since Cronk is 33 and obviously at the winding down stage of his career, it is unlikely that he would receive anything beyond one year as a hired gun, but if he wants to remain associated with the game of rugby, a post-playing career job opportunity might tip the balance in the direction of any club that could benefit from his experience.
