Cooper Cronk believes the temperament of the halves will decide Sunday’s NRL grand final, and the Dally M winner has Manly maestro Daly Cherry-Evans ahead of his Sydney Roosters’ rivals.
Some critics have suggested spearheading the Sea Eagles to a premiership could result in the in-form Cherry-Evans putting serious pressure on Cronk for the starting Kangaroos No.7 jersey at the upcoming World Cup.
However, after taking out the game’s highest honour for the first time in Sydney on Tuesday night, Melbourne playmaker Cronk declared he was “completely comfortable” with his standing as Australian and Queensland halfback.
Cronk might be confident about his own position, but that doesn’t mean he’s not part of the ever-growing Cherry-Evans fan club.
Roosters’ halves James Maloney and Mitchell Pearce have both experienced the pain of grand final defeat, and while not underestimating that factor, Cronk says in his opinion, Cherry-Evans has the edge.
“People think (winning grand finals) comes down to tactics, skill, aggression and defence,” Cronk said.
“But for me I think it will come down to temperament.
“The temperament of the two sets of halves on the opposite sides.
“And I think Daly Cherry-Evans’ temperament at the moment, he’s got it a little bit ahead of the opposition.
“But what is so powerful is losing a grand final and the other two boys (Maloney and Pearce) have lost one each at respective clubs (Warriors and Roosters), so don’t underestimate that.”
Cronk is a premiership winner, but has also tasted the bitterness of grand final defeat. He knows as well as anyone what’s required.
The 29-year-old by his own admission had a disappointing end to the season, with Melbourne bowing out of the finals’ race in straight sets.
Despite their disappointing fade, Cronk (28 votes) snuck home by two votes over Cherry-Evans, Johnathan Thurston and Todd Carney (tied on 26) to win the Dally M.
Asked if he was feeling the pressure from Cherry-Evans at representative level, Cronk said he was confident he’d done enough.
“I’m completely comfortable with my position in the game and my ability and what I’m capable of,” Cronk said.
“But I wish him (Cherry-Evans) all the success.”
For a grand final team, Manly had a relatively quiet night at the Dally M’s – with Jamie Lyon the only winner, taking out centre of the year.
However, Lyon missed out on captain of the year, David Williams and Jorge Taufua were overlooked for winger of the year and Geoff Toovey wasn’t even nominated for coach of the year.