Pearce on Cronk

[ROC181]

Regardless that Storm had a very good team last year, we still had a good team to be able to come second yet we were not able to score as many points as we have this year AND we also had a better goal kicker. Many of our games last year were won by what 6 points or less? We have improved.

[ism22]

‘Cronk worth the money if they win the comp’. Is MP a member here cause I’m sure I’ve read that here...

He's not wrong though. This year is so eerily similar to last year that IMO it's fair to draw comparrisons.
1. We won our first game against a top-4 team in a relatively close encounter.
2. After 2 weeks off we still had at least 2 key players out... a key back and a key forward.
3. Our opponent in will not win a GF (simply lacks the talent) but they have a full strength forward pack and play a very physical game. Whereas our forward pack lacks a bit of strength (stretching our bench a little) and our backline has a serious hole in it (that big forwards will try to exploit).
4. We will have a team capable of winning a GF available NEXT WEEK but we have to get through this hurdle first... and they'll be playing like it's a GF.

I am nervous because Souffs are full strength and we're not. A lot of teams seem to crack us by simplifying their game, bending the offside rule (without punishment), grinding us with forwards and then slowing everything down with negative tactics if they can get ahead early on.

Big test for Cronk!!! IMO he beat the Sharks. He kept their forwards at bay by forcing them to run at least 80m for every set. IMO he has the power to keep us all calm, lock their forwards into a corner, keep their forwards away from our gaps and shut the door on Souffs with 15 minutes to go so that they become a desperate rabble. Cronk has a MASSIVE opportunity to prove any remaining critics wrong. If we win tomorrow, Cronk will have proven his worth. Fortunately for him, I reckon this is his moment and it's exactly why he signed with us.

[Easts75]

Pearce at 9 would be a sensation. Tough, fit as ****, solid defender, great pass,great long kicking game to take pressure off your 6 &7 etc. Just my opinion but Pearce would be a gun at hooker.
I like the dude and he busted his guts for us but i feel more confident going in tonight with Cronk at 7 than Pearce, actually its not even close

[Johnny73]

If dogboy was the 7 tomorrow night, the only way that the Roosters could win is if half the Bunnies went down injured by the shrapnel when dogboy went to pieces.

[Parkway_Drive]

How much more does Cronk cost more than Pearce would have costed us, $100k perhaps?

Cronk won't be an immortal but he is expected to deliver us a premiership despite only taking a marginal more dent out of the salary cap than Pearce would have.

I think he was signed more so that the powers felt that Pearce was no longer the man to deliver us a premiership at half and they were hoping he would stay on as a Hooker or utility. If that was the case then anything less than a premiership would have been deemed a failure.

Pearce leaving probably threw a spanner but at the moment suspensions aside Cronk has gone a long way to proving his worth to the club. We are well placed to win the comp this year and failing that I think with the squad we have for 2019 we would be looking good to winning next year or even the rare back to back.

Cronks composure is second to none and Pearce would have gone to a new level if he stayed. It would have been like watching Morgan go to a new level with Thurston and also Cronk when in camp for origin with him. Keary will reap the rewards in the future.