Reynolds fires back at Cronk after retired star’s ‘failure’ comments
Write it up as yet another juicy chapter in South Sydney’s famous Book Of Feuds.
Sydney Roosters favourite Cooper Cronk this week sided with Souths officials for baulking at giving halfback Adam Reynolds a long-time deal, and said: “He’s got to three prelims in the last three years and failed”.
Adam Reynolds at Thursday’s NRL season launch.Credit:Getty Images
Reynolds, never one to back away from a scrap, returned serve on Thursday when he said: “One player doesn’t solve the outcome of a game – he [Cronk] should know that from the [2018] grand final”.
“They [the Roosters] pretty much did it without him,” Reynolds said of the match Cronk famously played with a broken shoulder blade which reduced his role to on-field organiser. Cronk suffered the injury in the preliminary final against the Rabbitohs, having first copped a hit from Sam Burgess and then another from Reynolds himself.
“Who cares,” Reynolds said. “I don’t care what he thinks of me or his thoughts. I haven’t had anything to do with him. If it comes from my coaches or someone within the club, I would care. But nobody from the club has said anything like that to me. He’s on TV and gets to talk about football. It might be generally what he thinks.
“If you asked someone on the street they’d have a worse opinion of me. Ask someone else and they’d have an opinion about him.
No love lost … Adam Reynolds and Cooper Cronk.Credit:Getty, Getty
“I respect what he’s done for the game, but I won’t get caught up with his comments.”
Reynolds made it known last week he was unhappy with the Rabbitohs’ decision to offer him just a one-year extension.
He said at Thursday’s NRL launch the club want to keep him “the next four or five years, but on one-year contracts at a time”.
Cronk told Fox League this week when the topic turned to re-investing in the 30-year-old Reynolds for the long haul: “I can understand where Souths are coming from in that regard.
Adam Reynolds launches a kick at Thursday’s NRL Launch at White Bay Cruise Terminal.Credit:James Brickwood/SMH Sport
“Yes he does have one of the best kicking games in the comp, and he’s the captain of the club.
“But he’s got to three prelims in the last three years and failed.
“That’s part of being in the spine, part of being a halfback and a leader, it’s to get the team to the prelim and then take them to the trophy.”
Cronk won six titles with Melbourne and the Roosters. In 2018, his reduced role meant five-eighth Luke Keary steered the club home to glory against the Storm.
Reynolds pointed out Cronk had featured in some of great teams.
A 2014 premiership winner, it was not lost on Reynolds he had been criticised by a Rooster. Cronk has also resumed work with the Storm – South Sydney’s round-one opponents next Thursday – where he assists with the halves and any off-field commercial engagements.
Reynolds said even if Cronk’s comments had merit, he said there was no plan to bomb out a fourth straight preliminary final in what will double as Wayne Bennett’s farewell season at Redfern.
“[Cronk]’s not playing, it would be nice if he was playing – it would add a bit more [to the theatre],” Reynolds said. At the end of the day it’s true, we’ve been to three preliminaries and lost three.
“In saying that, ask any player who finishes outside the eight and they probably want to be in my position. Hopefully it won’t be a fourth time.”
Reynolds planned to continue negotiations with Souths who have made it known they have no appetite to sign a senior player to a long-time deal after they were financially stung by Burgess’ shock medical retirement.
A father of four, Reynolds is backing himself to play until he’s 35.
“I have a lot of good footy left in me. I won’t be slowing down any time soon,” Reynolds said.
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