• Greatest Name in Rugby Cronk Still has Passion for Rep Play

    Unlike Johnathan Thurston, who will no longer play rugby at the representative level so as to better reward the NRL Cowboys with his full, undivided attention, Melbourne Storm halfback Cooper Cronk, going into his 14th season, still wants to compete at the representative level, and is willing to undertake the risk despite having another two seasons on his NRL deal.

    It seems only fitting, given that Cronk, despite his advanced age of 34, has been showing some of the best form of his career. He plans on being around to play for Queensland and Australia for as long as he plays, period.

    Of course, that implies that Queensland will select him for State or Origin and that Australia will pick him for the Kangaroos, which is no foregone conclusion.

    Still, according to Cronk, “I’ve never entertained the thought of retiring from rep football. I still have a passion for it. As long as my level of play is at a high standard and I get rewarded with being picked in those teams, I don’t think I’ll ever give it up. I love representing Australia and the passion around Origin. I don’t see myself, anytime soon doing anything like that.”