Cooper Cronk seals role as Melbourne Storm halves coach

[off-tap-robbie]

MATT LOGUE, The Daily Telegraph
June 18, 2017 11:55am
Subscriber only

DEPARTING Melbourne halfback Cooper Cronk has agreed to be a specialist halves coach for the club next season.

Storm football manager Frank Ponissi told The Sunday Telegraph Cronk would be involved with the club in a variety of roles, including working with the team’s emerging halves.

The playmaker is yet to publicly announce if he will play on or retire next season, but Ponissi said the club would make his role work regardless.

Cooper Cronk trains with the Maroons.
“So we have a preference that he doesn’t play for two reasons – one we don’t want to be playing against Cooper because he is such a quality player,’’ Ponissi said.

“And two, it just means we can start using him straightaway in a coaching capacity which we wouldn’t be able to do if he went to another club.”

Even if Cronk retired and moved to Sydney to be closer to his partner Tara Rushton, Ponissi stressed the Storm would make his role with the club work.

“It has been done before,” he said.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...h/news-story/9a3f4126be70a30f190227fd740644d0

 

[Boxer]

Can't the dogs hire him as a halves coach and that way he stays in Sydney.

 

[CrittaMagic69]

Des is a shit ****, how the club wasn't all over him as a halves coach is pathetic. Des will put all his trust in a broken down Foran ffs.

 

[maroondog72]

Can't the dogs hire him as a halves coach and that way he stays in Sydney.

Des probably doesn't rate him

 

[Bulldog_4_Life]

I don't get this... what use is Cronk gonna be as a halves coach if his in a different state to the club and halves.

 

[Boxer]

I don't get this... what use is Cronk gonna be as a halves coach if his in a different state to the club and halves.

I know right it makes no scene.

 

[CrittaMagic69]

I don't get this... what use is Cronk gonna be as a halves coach if his in a different state to the club and halves.

He will probs be there a day or 2 at most during the week once the season starts.

 

[Alan79]

It needn't be a full time coaching gig. The have are still going to train with the rest of the squad, so if he sought maybe two days a week in Melbourne, spent times reviewing video footage when in Sydney it wouldn't be an issue. He's obviously needing to travel to see his fiance so dedicating a couple of days per week to travel would still mean he's able to spend most of his time in Sydney, presumably to keep up some media commitments and dedicate more time to the relationship. Flying time between Melbourne and Sydney isn't a huge time constraint.

 

[Baseball Furies]

I don't get this... what use is Cronk gonna be as a halves coach if his in a different state to the club and halves.

Isn't that how M.Johns used to do it at Melbourne - FIFO halves coach?

 

[Baseball Furies]

Isn't it amazing that Des was a representative halfback, Dymock was an accomplished 5/8 and Penna also played in the halves but we've got the most clueless halves combo. in the competition.

How is it so?

 

[Kaz]

I don't get this... what use is Cronk gonna be as a halves coach if his in a different state to the club and halves.

FIFO & when Melbourne are interstate.

 

[doggieaaron]

They are what we used to be ,absolutely schooling des and dib from the front office to the football field ,bullfrog would be hating this

 

[EXPLORER]

Can't the dogs hire him as a halves coach and that way he stays in Sydney.

That makes way too much sence

 

[Bulldog_4_Life]

Isn't that how M.Johns used to do it at Melbourne - FIFO halves coach?

I thought Johns was mainly there in pre season and would go up there once or twice every few weeks. Hardly a halves coach tbh.

 

[Moedogg]

Just say you'll retire already!!!

 

[Baseball Furies]

I thought Johns was mainly there in pre season and would go up there once or twice every few weeks. Hardly a halves coach tbh.

I thought he was down there weekly man, could be wrong though?

 

[Bulldog_4_Life]

I thought he was down there weekly man, could be wrong though?

Yeah idk bro

 

[CroydonDog]

It wouldn't;t be a fulltime job, and plenty of people commute between Sydney and Melbourne. Not really a big deal.

 

[Lov_Dog]

So, being halves coach at a club basically spells retirement, riiiight?

Cannot be coach (albeit part-time) at one club, playing at another ?!
Maybe I missed the retirement announcement.

~c.

 

[Papa Emeritus]

Bellamy was on the radio today saying Cronk always had a clause in his contract that he would become a halves coach when he retires.

He could easily decide to play for someone else for next season then keep the coaching gig for after that. We will see.