Pathetic

[Loobs]

I know the Sporting News is garbage but this is especially weak - from Bulldog's Bite;

CRITICISM OF COOPER CRONK SO FAR LACKING
This isn’t about bagging a champion. Let me make that crystal clear from the outset.

But it is still a column I think should be written.

Would former playmaker Mitchell Pearce have attracted criticism by leading a powerful Roosters side to four losses in the opening eight games?

The answer is, unequivocally, yes. Jumped all over.

Has Cooper Cronk come under the same scrutiny? The same dissection? The answer is no.

Cronk is a true champion, one of the finest halfbacks of the modern era.

But he has managed to avoid any intense cross-examination so far this year – unlike his predecessor Pearce.

Cronk has played his entire career in an AFL-mad town where NRL players aren’t essentially questioned or challenged.

But this is Sydney and rugby league rules.

Cronk’s form season so far has been modest. Yes, he is new to the club and, yes, his forwards haven’t excelled.

But he is a $1m a year player and Roosters fans would have expected more. I think even Cronk would have expected more.

No doubt I will get bagged for even daring to question Cronk. Bit like those who had the temerity to query Johnathan Thurston’s form this season.

The Roosters attack looks clunky and Cronk through periods of games has been largely ineffectual.

As I stressed, this isn’t about taking a pot shot at Cronk. It’s more about asking some questions and rationally analysing Cronk’s form.

And feeling a little for the often maligned Pearce, who would have been condemned if still in charge at Bondi.

Jesus H Christ this is a weak attempt at saying Cronk is playing ****. 3/4's of it is him tiptoeing around wanting to say he's been crap. The rest is him apologising for even bringing it up. This is why league journalism is so horrendous. Everyone is afraid to have an honest take, lest they offend one of the boys club.

That is of course unless they play for Manly. Then they feel the wrath of anyone with an audience...

 

[KNUCKLES]

What a pussycat!
You would think by the manner in which he wrote this article, he was tampering with some type of classified information and fearing for his welfare

 

[BOZO]

The Bulldogs bite has no teeth .

 

[KNUCKLES]

Or his job perhaps!! Conspiracy much???

 

[HappilyManly]

Cronk, Morgan and JT are playing crap and attract zero critique

Rorters and Cows were tipped as Grand Finalists by all experts

 

[maxta]

I prefer Legitimate comments - the old cryptic comments are to back down as though " I didn't mean it like that"

 

[manlywarringah]

Once i got through all the apologies for even attempting to write about Cronks form, it finished!

Where was the criticism?

Cronk is a professional but he is not delivering for the roosters at the moment.

Imagine if he had've come across to us and played the same way? He'd be torn to shreds!

 

[Spartan Eagle]

If Gronk had signed with manly it would be open slather.

 

[Wombat64]

I think that The Roosters club is ****ed and will probably not be around in 10 years

 

[KNUCKLES]

I think that The Roosters club is ****ed and will probably not be around in 10 years

Relocate them to tassy..
and call them The Pink Eyes

 

[MadMarcus]

To be fair DCE is a media darling just like Cronk. I can't imagine anyone in the media criticising DCE's performances, let alone bringing up his salary.

 

[KNUCKLES]

To be fair DCE is a media darling just like Cronk. I can't imagine anyone in the media criticising DCE's performances, let alone bringing up his salary.

your kidding aren’t you!?
I hope you are..

 

[ricardo]

your kidding aren’t you!?
I hope you are..

I suspect he is

 

[MadMarcus]

I suspect he is

I suspect I am too.

 

[Ranga]

Cronk mostly doesn’t get criticised because he is on the fox sports payroll and is colleagues with those who are meant to pass comment objectively.

 

[HoldenV8]

Rorters and Cows were tipped as Grand Finalists by all experts

I could honestly never understand that.

The reasoning with the Chooks was that Tedesco and Cronk would suddenly make them damn near unbeatable. But while Tedesco is probably an upgrade on an aging Gordon, Cronk is replacing a player (Pearce) who knew the team and how they played like the back of his hand. I never thought those two would suddenly make the Chooks so much better. Cronk is playing like he's there for just one last big pay day, while Tedesco has hardly set the world on fire. He's still playing like he did at the back end of last year for the Tigpies, almost half hearted.

And as for the Cows.....their 2017 form was patchy at best. Sure they came alive in the Finals, but the fact is that they wouldn't have even been there if St Merge hadn't choked against the Dogs in the last round. I pretty much expected the return of both Thurston and Scott to have a negative affect on the team, which has proven to be the case. In a lot of ways both are playing like they have gone on one year too long. Scott can barely get through 10 minutes without being gassed. A couple of hit ups and 2 or 3 tackles and he goes into hiding waiting for 20 minutes to come so he can plod to the bench, if he's not being targeted in defence. And while JT still has the skills, he's doing it a lot slower than in his prime and its not happening for him, or at least it rarely is compared to what we're used to seeing.

 

[Harvies elbow]

He's probably trying to avoid being criticised like brandy Alexander was for his jt comments.
Courage personified.

 

[MadMarcus]

I wouldn't swap cronk for Hastings

Ridiculous comparison. Why would anyone ever consider swapping one of the best halves to ever play the game, undoubtedly a future immortal, for Cooper Cronk?