South Sydney won’t go out of their way to direct extra traffic at Cooper Cronk in Friday’s blockbuster final after the Sydney Roosters halfback declared himself fit.
Cronk gave Roosters fans a brief scare when he left the field bracing his shoulder when a scrum fell on him late in Thursday night’s loss to the Rabbitohs.
It came after the No.7 was also injured in last year’s preliminary final against Souths, before battling on to play the grand final with a broken scapula the following week.
The Rabbitohs were at the time questioned why they hadn’t directed more traffic at the struggling Cronk, a query that angered then-coach Anthony Seibold.
Halfback Adam Reynolds said on Monday they again wouldn’t alter their plan for the retiring Rooster in Friday’s qualifying final at the SCG.
“If you go away from the game plan it could sort of self destruct,” Reynolds said.
“You saw in the grand final last year it’s pretty hard to get to him when he’s got his back-rowers working for him.
“We’ll target in and around him. Not necessarily straight at him. But if he comes in the firing line, we’ll work him over a bit.”
Cronk laughed off the concerns over his fitness on Monday, and downplayed any comparisons to last year’s decider.
He had not sported ice in the sheds following the match and had no issues when he fronted for training on Monday.
“I was absolutely fine, just a bit of a crusher on the neck and the body was a bit stiff,” Cronk said.
“There was a bit of hysteria around that (comparisons to last year) but it was absolutely nothing, I will be ready.”
The same certainty can’t however be given around the Roosters’ middle ahead of the qualifying final at the SCG.
Hooker Jake Friend is considered unlikely to overcome an infection suffered from his fractured arm, having run out in just four games this season.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves will front the judiciary on Tuesday night in a bid to play, as he aims to beat a high tackle charge.
Prop Sio Siua Taukeiaho is at least expected to beat a rib injury, while utility Mitchell Aubusson and winger Brett Morris will both feature after being rested with niggles last week.
“It’s obviously nervous times for Jared,” captain Boyd Cordner said.
“But at the same time I think he should be pretty confident in fighting that charge. Whatever happens, whether he is playing or he isn’t, we’ll be okay and right to go.
“Friendy is doing his best. Knowing him he will be doing everything he can to be right. But probably not this game to be honest.”
The Roosters enter the finals as title favourites and in the box seat to be the first team since Brisbane in 1992 and 1993 to win back-to-back titles in a unified competition.
