#6 Cooper Cronk
It was of course only a matter of time until the big three started making their appearance in the countdown, and so it begins here with the 29 year old Storm halfback. 2012 marked the best year in Cronk's career. He lead the NRL in kicks in play with 348, 33 more than the next placed Jarrod Mullen, and of course was part of Melbourne's Grand Final victory, picking up the Clive Churchill Medal in the process as Melbourne's best player in the final. His fabulous efforts were celebrated at the Dally M awards where he picked up the Dally M Halfback of the year award for the second consecutive year and third time overall. Just to cap off his great season in the purple jersey, he picked up the man of the match award in Melbourne's World Club Challenge victory over Leeds Rhinos. On the representative stage, Cronk started both games in the 7 jumper for Australia's defeats of New Zealand. After earning 6 straight Origin appearances on the bench for Queensland, the retirement of Darren Lockyer finally opened the door for the patient Cronk, and with Thurston moving into five-eighth, Cronk finally was rewarded with the number 7 maroon jersey, starting all three games for Queensland, and kicking the field goal that gave Queensland a 21-20 victory in the deciding Origin game 3. The best player in the NRL in his position, the best player on the field in the Grand Final, the best player on the field in the World Club Challenge, a clutch Origin series winning field goal, it doesn't get much better than that.
Cooler than the other side of the pillow
While the trio of Cronk, Smith and Slater are referred to as the "big three' there always seemed to be a feeling that Smith and Slater were the more important or better of the two, to the point where I felt Cronk often was underrated. Sure, he benefits from playing with Smith and Slater, but they benefit from playing with him also, as does everyone in the Melbourne side. 2012 really felt like the coming out year for Cronk, even at the age of 29. While Smith and Slater had been regular star Origin and Australian representatives, 2012 was the year that Cronk became a permanent starting fixture alongside them. The stats that Cronk dominated give a great indication of his role in the side, the kicks in play and the try assists. Cronk has really developed into the pivot for Melbourne, he steers the ship around, in conjunction with the delivery from Smith at dummy half. Cronk's boot navigates Melbourne up and down the field, and what a great boot he has. So much power, and yet seems to be able to drop the ball on a 10 cent coin, he's a constant threat to pull off a 40-20 and he has the temperament to look for them at just the right time. His kicking game is the best in the NRL, his barrage of chips over the top for running through Storm players (more often than not Billy Slater), the great bombs he launches up, the tactical grubbers into the ingoal, the cross-field kicks that are always on point, Cronk kicks the ball with more accuracy and precision than most players can pass it. He's one of the most intelligent players in the NRL, unsurprisingly he can regularly be seen in conversation with Smith making decisions on the field, integral to the structured, methodical attacking gameplan that Melbourne plays with.
The "Cooper Cronk special"
At 178cm and 88kg, Cronk is a relatively small guy, at least by NRL standards, but he doesn't shy away on defense. While he's by no means a defensive force, he is good for around 15-20 tackles a game and he is pretty reliable with his tackling, he doesn't miss too many. He isn't a physical or athletic freak, he has good speed but isn't among the fastest on the paddock, he can pull off a step but he is no Benji Marshall, and he is pretty strong for a halfback. But there is some flash, some "razzle dazzle" to Cronk's game, but it comes not on the back of athletic ability, but instead from his ability to think and make decisions that few in the NRL are capable of. The inside pass he makes so often, and is seen in the video above, is the go to piece of flash in Cronk's game and it's so effective, it is where so many of his try assists come from particularly to a lurking Billy Slater. While his body is yet to show the effects of a career spanning 210 games for the Storm, his mind very much does. Playing alongside the methodical, cerebral Cameron Smith and under Craig Bellamy has clearly worn off on him. He, so much like Smith, is often robotic in his approach to the game, he steps onto the field, makes all the right decisions and gets the job done in a calculated, business like fashion.
Check back in tomorrow for number 5, this day next week you'll finally be enjoying a great evening of Friday Nighty Footy, much to your partners delight! Thanks Super Rugby, it was fun while it lasted. Comments, suggestions, criticisms, find me on Twitter @WellsNorthShore
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