Cronk considers his Roosters’ NRL legacy

He’s barely spent a year out of Melbourne but Cooper Cronk has already thought about what legacy he wants to leave in Sydney.

Two weeks before his first NRL finals series with the Sydney Roosters, the veteran playmaker insists he’s as driven as he has ever been about delivering in the big games.

“There’s still the thrill, the pressure, the adrenaline of whether you can do it in this moment,” Cronk told AAP.

“That’s what I love about football in general but finals football everything’s highlighted.

“There’s more people, atmosphere, ferocious tackling, intensity. Everything just rises up.”

Those words will be music to the ears of club bosses, who were criticised by some for sacrificing favourite son Mitchell Pearce to sign the former Storm star last summer.

Make no mistake, Cronk was lured to bring the Roosters another premiership.

While the 34-year-old is intent on bringing success when it counts, he has also given ample consideration about what kind of impact his two years will have at Bondi.

“I’m here to be successful and play really well but the other thing for me about this footy club is (that) I want to leave it in better shape,” he said.

“Just in terms of, ‘Is it closer to winning the next one after I’ve gone?’

“Because I’ve invested a lot of time in educating the guys, doing different things around management.”

Having won two premierships with the Storm, the former Kangaroos and Queensland State of Origin representative takes pride in passing on his experience to his Roosters teammates.

And that also includes co-captains Boyd Cordner and Jake Friend.

“I’m not the type of the player that’s just going to come here for two years, wave, and then say, ‘See you later,'” he said.

“Even our captains, Boyd and Jake, there’s things I can help a little bit in that regard. Luke (Keary) is another key pillar of that. (James Tedesco has) come along.

“Joseph Manu, Blake Ferguson – obviously he won’t be here – but combinations with those guys on that right edge, it’s about education and experience.

“So when I do walk away, eventually, they have the know-how and skill-set to implement their own style but also take away a little bit of what hopefully I’ve helped with.”

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