Cronk plays with broken scapula in Roosters’ grand final win
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Cooper Cronk has played the NRL grand final with a broken scapula to help inspire the Sydney Roosters to a 21-6 win over the Melbourne Storm, who farewelled Billy Slater on a losing note.
Cronk was only confirmed as a definite starter against his former club a bit over an hour before kick-off at Sydney's Olympic stadium following a week of speculation about his injured shoulder, however the extent of the injury was revealed after the Roosters claimed victory.
"He (Cronk) actually broke his scapula. That will go down in history. That is a big performance from him," Roosters co-captain Boyd Cordner told Channel Nine.
"He was touch and go right up until game time. We had to come up with a game plan to protect him as much as possible, and we executed that."
The effort of Cronk, who sustained the injury in the Roosters' win over South Sydney last weekend, conjured up memories of John Sattler's heroic performance when he captained the Rabbitohs to victory in the 1970 grand final with a broken jaw.
Cronk, who became the first player in 45 years to win consecutive premierships at different clubs, was limited to orchestrating the team's attack as he battled through the pain and he also craftily hid himself against a Storm attack that struggled to target him.
He was hit heavily after his first two kicks, first by Joe Stimson and then by former teammate Cameron Smith. But both bombs resulted in a repeat sets that led to the opening tries.
He missed none of his eight tackles in a courageous effort before bowing out of the match with two minutes to go.
The 34-year-old could barely lift his left arm, let alone pass, kick or tackle, yet it was the Storm that were immobilised by a rampant and meticulous Roosters attack.
The Roosters were on top of the Storm early in the grand final, scoring tries through Daniel Tupou and Latrell Mitchell inside the opening 15 minutes, while a third to Joseph Manu late in the first half established an 18-0 lead at the break.
The Storm did not get on the scoreboard until the 62nd minute through a Josh Addo-Carr try but it was too late for the defending premiers to lay a glove on their opponents.
The Roosters added a field goal through Clive Churchill Medal winner Luke Keary and a late penalty goal from Mitchell to ice the victory in front of 82,688 spectators.
It is the Roosters' first premiership since 2013 and second under coach Trent Robinson, while the Storm's loss dampened Slater's final match before he heads into retirement.
Keary steps up in man of the match performance
With Cronk unable to pass longer than a metre, Keary and Tedesco shone.
An early Mitchell penalty goal gave the Roosters first points, but Keary set up the first try with a long ball for Tupou in the eighth minute.
Keary was also involved for the second, sending an early ball for Mitchell to swat aside Will Chambers and claim first points in their anticipated battle.
While the Roosters were pinpoint with their ball-use, the Storm were uncharacteristically wasteful with theirs.
Felise Kaufusi and Nelson Asofa-Solomona, the latter of whom eyed off Cronk before dropping the ball, came up with ill-timed turnovers in the first half.
And the Roosters made them pay, like when Jake Friend took off from Asofa-Solomona's error and it resulted in Cameron Munster being binned for a professional foul.
It was the first grand final sin-binning since Terry Lamb was given a rest for Canterbury against Manly in 1995.
The killer blow came just minutes before the break, when Tedesco caught the Storm napping on a short side move for Manu to score in the corner.
Down three tries midway through the second half, the Storm got one back when Addo-Carr intercepted a Keary pass and raced 85 metres to score.
But the Keary one-pointer finished off the contest, before Munster was also marched to the sin-bin a second time as Cronk was substituted from the field.
ABC/AAP
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