Storm preparing to face ‘tough little rooster’ Cronk in NRL grand final
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Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy is preparing the Storm to face a Roosters line-up that includes his former pupil Cooper Cronk, as the injured half-back declares he will "throw a Hail Mary" to be ready for Sunday's grand final.
Cronk is considered long odds to face his former Storm teammates in the premiership decider because of a shoulder injury he sustained in the Roosters' preliminary final victory over South Sydney last Saturday night.
He again said on Thursday he would not rule himself out of fronting up for the grand final and was continuing to go through his rehabilitation process.
It is for this reason Bellamy is planning for the Storm to face Cronk, as he knows better than anyone that the two-time premiership winner will be meticulous in his preparation.
"We are preparing as though he is [playing]. I know he will be doing everything plus, plus, plus to be ready for Sunday," Bellamy said.
"The other thing I suppose is he's a tough little rooster, pardon the pun. I've seen him play with a lot of injuries with us.
"If anyone's going to do it, it's going to be Coops."
On Monday Cronk described his chances of playing the grand final as being a "long shot" but he is refusing to rule himself out of the season decider at Sydney's Olympic stadium.
"I got a bit of improvement today and it [the shoulder] definitely needs some," Cronk said a media conference in Sydney on Thursday.
"I'm still trying to throw a Hail Mary, hopefully it lands and we'll see how we go on Sunday.
"Most people in this room know that I'm pretty diligent, pretty professional with what I do, but I've gone up 1,000 knots on that this week."
Cronk admits he's 'got a fair bit of work to do'
Cronk, 34, says he is more confident of playing the grand final than when he first suffered the injury against the Rabbitohs.
But it will still be a big ask to line up against the Storm, although he has been able to build some stability, movement and range with the joint.
"It's an improvement, but it's not enough to tackle Jesse Bromwich or Dale Finucane so I've got a fair bit of work to do," Cronk said.
The Roosters have Sean O'Sullivan, Ryan Matterson or even Mitch Aubusson up their sleeves as half-back options if Cronk fails to prove his fitness.
"We are pushing for Cooper to play, that's where I am at the moment," Roosters coach Trent Robinson said.
"I've got contingency plans there if he doesn't, but I won't be sharing them."
AAP/ABC
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