Round 16 - Roosters vs Storm

[yourhero]

Someone asked in one of the threads what happened to Brandon Smith - He got off the ground a bit dusty at the end of the Roosters game and there was a question RE injury.

Thankfully, there wasn’t much to it... Seems Smith Jr was a bit excited with the winning field goal and ran/jumped face-first into Smith Snr. Can confirm Smith Snr has the tougher (and rougher) melon.

[Cameron]

The Smith Chronicles.

Brendan's head looks fairly rough

I reckon Cameron is just made of titanium

That is the only way to explain how he can make 50 tackles a game and still be the best offensive player.

[blazza18]

Haha that is so great. Brandon is a legit energiser bunny.

[yourhero]

He is amazing. His post contact metres are f*cking ridiculous... I mean the physics just don’t make sense.

When we started using him as a middle forward, I took any excuse to get him in the 17, but was worried that the role wouldn’t suit him and it may hurt his immediate first grade opportunities... Nah, instead he decided he was going to make a better impact than some (most?) of our bench props

[blazza18]

He had 3 guys on his back the other night and he was still powering through. Absolute machine.

[steaming stormer]

NAS on the back of the flight saga was huge, as was Glasby.

I'm not sure where the Hoffman hate comes from - Stimson got his start, and Hoffy was by far the better of the two on the night.

12 Runs for 93m (7.75 metres per carry)
1 offload
26 tackles (missed 4 - a little under 85% efficiency so down on his very solid 90% for the season)
0 Errors

Was he man of the match without the chargedown and regather? No, I doubt it, but that is a bloody solid game, and then throw the chargedown in, I'm happy enough.

[yourhero]

NAS on the back of the flight saga was huge, as was Glasby.

NAS was huge. Carrying the ball when we really needed it and threatening the line all night. His two dumb errors and penalty took away from that brilliance. Glasby played his best game in a long time.

I'm not sure where the Hoffman hate comes from - Stimson got his start, and Hoffy was by far the better of the two on the night.

12 Runs for 93m (7.75 metres per carry)
1 offload
26 tackles (missed 4 - a little under 85% efficiency so down on his very solid 90% for the season)
0 Errors

Was he man of the match without the chargedown and regather? No, I doubt it, but that is a bloody solid game, and then throw the chargedown in, I'm happy enough.

That is OK but hardly anything to write home about. The missed tackles and (at times) stifled runs were of most concern. Hoffman also conceded a penalty.

With respect, even taking in to account the charge down, he still shouldn't have been MOTM...

Cameron Smith
5 Runs for 46m (9.2 metres per carry)
1 Try Assist
1 Line Break Assist
5 Kicks for 238m
2 Tackle Breaks
57 Tackles
1 Conversion
1 Penalty Goal
1 game winning Field Goal from near 40m out
0 Errors
0 Penalties Conceded

[blazza18]

His celebration post field goal was tremendous too.

[Cameron]

If there are any issue between the GOAT and Cooper Cronk, what does it matter ?. As long as Cameron Smith will leads Storm around the park with more victories and losses and Cooper Cronk plays for another club, who cares if they've had a falling out.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/inside ... 4zp1t.html

On the eve of last year’s grand final, just after the captain’s run, Storm players and coaching staff gathered in a circle in a private room at ANZ Stadium.

It’s become a tradition at the club before each grand final for the players to present each other with the jumpers they will pull on the following night.

Ahead of the grand final against the Cowboys, the last three jumpers to be presented belonged to the hooker, halfback and fullback.

This match would be the last time the so-called “big three” of captain Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater played together at club level.

Cronk had told the Storm in early April he would be heading to Sydney to be with fiancee Tara Rushton. The smart money was on him retiring.

Melbourne are so usually watertight when it comes to information leaking out that it’s impossible to know exactly what the three superstars said about each other — but let’s just say there were few dry eyes in the room when it was over, according to those who witnessed it.

Since that night, however, rumours have swirled about a spectacular fallout between Smith and Cronk.

They gathered momentum during Australia’s World Cup campaign; they were given more oxygen when Smith and his wife, Barb, brushed Cronk’s wedding in Sydney in mid-December; and it was there for all to see on Friday night when Cronk hugged all of his former teammates after Melbourne’s thrilling win over the Roosters, only to give Smith a cursory handshake before moving on.

Feel a sudden drop in temperature? Don’t worry, it’s just the chill coming off the cold shoulder Cronk gave Smith in Adelaide.

Neither player is expected to talk about the matter publicly.

Those who know them best tell you they’re simply different men: Smith the old soul who has been a father for the past 11 years; Cronk the elusive figure even among his teammates who has only started to come out of his shell since meeting Rushton.

“They’ve never been bum chums,” former Storm five-eighth Brett Finch said on Triple M, referring to the simple fact that some teammates are closer than others.

There’s little doubt, though, that Cronk's decision to play on and play for the Roosters hasn’t gone down particularly well with some in Melbourne, and that includes Smith.

During the World Cup, the pair didn't talk to each other outside of football commitments. At all. Not a word.

Cronk’s drawn-out “will he or won’t he” decision to finally sign with the Roosters was at odds with the way Smith goes about his business.

When Smith made the shock decision earlier this year to retire from representative football, the Australian and Queensland captain had to be talked into holding a media conference.

Last year was a series of Cronk final chapters: his final Origin series for Queensland; his final match for the Storm, possibly his last ever; his last match in an Australian jumper.

Then he was playing on … but who with? Oh, the mystery! The suspense! It became mind-numbing.

Cronk has toyed with the media about his playing future several times in the past. He once infamously held his own press conference to reveal he was extending his deal at Melbourne when a simple media release would suffice.

“I wish he’d make a decision because I’m getting stopped in the street by people asking me what’s going on,” Roosters chairman Nick Politis joked at the height of negotiations in October.

Cronk’s decision to not just play on but to sign with the heaviest of premiership heavyweights — the Roosters — did not initially sit easily with some at Melbourne, although it was eventually forgotten.

Indeed, Cronk was back at the Storm’s Adelaide hotel following Friday night's match, enjoying a few catch-up beers with former teammates and coaches.

Then everyone woke up the next day to discover the video of Cronk’s post-match snub had gone viral. Storm players laughed it off, already aware of the frostiness between their captain and former halfback.

As the story gained momentum, Slater posted an image on his Instagram account of him and Cronk hugging each other post-match. “For the last 17 yrs we have worn the same jersey. Last night was the 1st time as opponents. Love ya brother.”

There have been reports of Slater and Smith falling out in recent times.

Some at the Storm say Smith has become “distant” this year, the reason for which only he can say, but they note that Smith drove around to Slater’s house when Slater was ruled out of Origin I because of a hamstring injury.

Football clubs are very much like families made up of different personalities. There are fallouts, fights, misunderstandings; most of them having no bearing on how the side plays. Layered on top of this dynamic is the influence of wives and girlfriends. They are a powerful force.

If Smith or anyone is angry at the Storm about Cronk’s departure, it is misguided.

He gave the club plenty of notice about his move to Sydney, so he didn't mess up their salary cap. Smith is still unsigned beyond this year.

Cronk is also entitled to play for whichever club he wants. And if he can get $1 million a year at the most powerful club in the city, he’s entitled to that, too.

Is the fallout with Smith and Cronk irreparable?

Those who saw the pair present each other with their jumpers the night before last year's grand final say it is not. Far from it.

Perhaps it's nothing more than Smith implicitly believing that Cronk, like Slater and himself, would all retire one-club players.

[blazza18]

Webster is really good at what he does. Of all the journos around the league I think he is the most legit.

[steaming stormer]

He sums up the way I see the Cronk departure as a member too.

Did he owe us anything? No - he'd been an outstanding contributor to our Club.
Was he entitled to leave at the end of the year? - Yes, his prerogative, and understandable with his then fiance in Sydney
Did he handle it poorly? Absolutely! He dragged it out for way longer than he needed in the whole 'Will he or won't he play on' saga, and he'd done it before. He had form! For a bloke who was intensely private, he sure as hell loved having his name in the paper and being asked the same question week after week.

Is it sad that their relationship has deteriorated to this point? Yes, but it's sad for them, that all of the achievements, the lifelong goals being met, the blood, sweat and tears that went into that may mean that when premiership reunions are on, or Old Boys day in the future - they won't have the same connection and fun as others involved.

But it's not a sad day for the Club or the fans - it has no bearing on either in my opinion

[yourhero]

Compare that to Paul Kent who is using the supposed disagreement between Cronk and Smith, as evidence of “the first authentic look at the doubt in Smith’s reputation around the game”...

This scumbag at it again... Fresh off a two-man circle jerk with alco-Rothfield.

[sallymay]

He sums up the way I see the Cronk departure as a member too.

Did he owe us anything? No - he'd been an outstanding contributor to our Club.
Was he entitled to leave at the end of the year? - Yes, his prerogative, and understandable with his then fiance in Sydney
Did he handle it poorly? Absolutely! He dragged it out for way longer than he needed in the whole 'Will he or won't he play on' saga, and he'd done it before. He had form! For a bloke who was intensely private, he sure as hell loved having his name in the paper and being asked the same question week after week.

Is it sad that their relationship has deteriorated to this point? Yes, but it's sad for them, that all of the achievements, the lifelong goals being met, the blood, sweat and tears that went into that may mean that when premiership reunions are on, or Old Boys day in the future - they won't have the same connection and fun as others involved.

But it's not a sad day for the Club or the fans - it has no bearing on either in my opinion

I've never been able to sum up my feeling right until I read this article and your comments

I love cooper always will
But the whole secrecy thing got to me and still annoys me
Not gonna lie we saw coops at the Pullman on Thursday night so assumed he was seeing the boys but also saw a couple of our guys at the intercontinental so it was a back an forth thing

[LESStar58]

If there are any issue between the GOAT and Cooper Cronk, what does it matter ?. As long as Cameron Smith will leads Storm around the park with more victories and losses and Cooper Cronk plays for another club, who cares if they've had a falling out.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/inside ... 4zp1t.html

On the eve of last year’s grand final, just after the captain’s run, Storm players and coaching staff gathered in a circle in a private room at ANZ Stadium.

It’s become a tradition at the club before each grand final for the players to present each other with the jumpers they will pull on the following night.

Ahead of the grand final against the Cowboys, the last three jumpers to be presented belonged to the hooker, halfback and fullback.

This match would be the last time the so-called “big three” of captain Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater played together at club level.

Cronk had told the Storm in early April he would be heading to Sydney to be with fiancee Tara Rushton. The smart money was on him retiring.

Melbourne are so usually watertight when it comes to information leaking out that it’s impossible to know exactly what the three superstars said about each other — but let’s just say there were few dry eyes in the room when it was over, according to those who witnessed it.

Since that night, however, rumours have swirled about a spectacular fallout between Smith and Cronk.

They gathered momentum during Australia’s World Cup campaign; they were given more oxygen when Smith and his wife, Barb, brushed Cronk’s wedding in Sydney in mid-December; and it was there for all to see on Friday night when Cronk hugged all of his former teammates after Melbourne’s thrilling win over the Roosters, only to give Smith a cursory handshake before moving on.

Feel a sudden drop in temperature? Don’t worry, it’s just the chill coming off the cold shoulder Cronk gave Smith in Adelaide.

Neither player is expected to talk about the matter publicly.

Those who know them best tell you they’re simply different men: Smith the old soul who has been a father for the past 11 years; Cronk the elusive figure even among his teammates who has only started to come out of his shell since meeting Rushton.

“They’ve never been bum chums,” former Storm five-eighth Brett Finch said on Triple M, referring to the simple fact that some teammates are closer than others.

There’s little doubt, though, that Cronk's decision to play on and play for the Roosters hasn’t gone down particularly well with some in Melbourne, and that includes Smith.

During the World Cup, the pair didn't talk to each other outside of football commitments. At all. Not a word.

Cronk’s drawn-out “will he or won’t he” decision to finally sign with the Roosters was at odds with the way Smith goes about his business.

When Smith made the shock decision earlier this year to retire from representative football, the Australian and Queensland captain had to be talked into holding a media conference.

Last year was a series of Cronk final chapters: his final Origin series for Queensland; his final match for the Storm, possibly his last ever; his last match in an Australian jumper.

Then he was playing on … but who with? Oh, the mystery! The suspense! It became mind-numbing.

Cronk has toyed with the media about his playing future several times in the past. He once infamously held his own press conference to reveal he was extending his deal at Melbourne when a simple media release would suffice.

“I wish he’d make a decision because I’m getting stopped in the street by people asking me what’s going on,” Roosters chairman Nick Politis joked at the height of negotiations in October.

Cronk’s decision to not just play on but to sign with the heaviest of premiership heavyweights — the Roosters — did not initially sit easily with some at Melbourne, although it was eventually forgotten.

Indeed, Cronk was back at the Storm’s Adelaide hotel following Friday night's match, enjoying a few catch-up beers with former teammates and coaches.

Then everyone woke up the next day to discover the video of Cronk’s post-match snub had gone viral. Storm players laughed it off, already aware of the frostiness between their captain and former halfback.

As the story gained momentum, Slater posted an image on his Instagram account of him and Cronk hugging each other post-match. “For the last 17 yrs we have worn the same jersey. Last night was the 1st time as opponents. Love ya brother.”

There have been reports of Slater and Smith falling out in recent times.

Some at the Storm say Smith has become “distant” this year, the reason for which only he can say, but they note that Smith drove around to Slater’s house when Slater was ruled out of Origin I because of a hamstring injury.

Football clubs are very much like families made up of different personalities. There are fallouts, fights, misunderstandings; most of them having no bearing on how the side plays. Layered on top of this dynamic is the influence of wives and girlfriends. They are a powerful force.

If Smith or anyone is angry at the Storm about Cronk’s departure, it is misguided.

He gave the club plenty of notice about his move to Sydney, so he didn't mess up their salary cap. Smith is still unsigned beyond this year.

Cronk is also entitled to play for whichever club he wants. And if he can get $1 million a year at the most powerful club in the city, he’s entitled to that, too.

Is the fallout with Smith and Cronk irreparable?

Those who saw the pair present each other with their jumpers the night before last year's grand final say it is not. Far from it.

Perhaps it's nothing more than Smith implicitly believing that Cronk, like Slater and himself, would all retire one-club players.

If Magic Johnson can forgive Isiah Thomas then Smith and Cronk can make up too.

[Cameron]

Time will tell.

Some people never forgive and take it to their grave.