On a broken wing and a prayer, the Sydney Roosters were crowned NRL Premiers at ANZ Stadium on Sunday – winning the 2018 NRL Grand Final 21-6 over the Melbourne Storm.
Cooper Cronk, arm hanging lifelessly at his side as he played through a broken scapula, was the inspiration behind the Roosters commanding victory in front 82,668 fans at ANZ Stadium.
On a broken wing and a prayer, the Sydney Roosters were crowned NRL Premiers at ANZ Stadium on Sunday – winning the 2018 NRL Grand Final 21-6 over the Melbourne Storm.
Cooper Cronk, arm hanging lifelessly at his side as he played through a broken scapula, was the inspiration behind the Roosters commanding victory in front 82,668 fans at ANZ Stadium.
“I’ve never seen a guy as mentally strong as Cooper Cronk,” said Rooters head coach Trent Robinson after the game.
“For him to go out there and do what he did with a broken shoulder blade is unbelievable.”
With Cronk reduced to an on-field coach’s role, Roosters’ five-eighth Luke Keary delivered the greatest performance of his career to help secure the club’s 14th premiership.
Playing like a man possessed, Keary’s Clive Churchill Medal-winning effort will go down as one of the best ever.
The Roosters shot out of the blocks, assuming a 12-point lead inside 15 minutes thanks to a pair of tries down the left flank from Daniel Tupou and Latrell Mitchell.
A Joseph Manu try just before the half gave the boys from the east an imposing 18-0 lead.
Outstanding defence was the game from there with a Josh Addo-Carr intercept try the only blemish on a near perfect performance from the Roosters.
For the Storm, it was double disappointment as they failed to send off champion fullback Billy Slater with a win in his final game.
But it was all about Bondi in 2018 with the Roosters serving up a masterful performance.
The Roosters’ effort wasn’t the only masterful performance on the day, with the Brisbane Broncos taking out the inaugural NRL Holden Women’s Premiership.
Karen Murphy Medal winner, Broncos five-eighth Kimiora Nati, played the game of her life, scoring three tries in a dominant 34-12 victory over the Roosters’ women.
In a day of big victories, Sydney’s other grand finalists the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs made light work of the Redcliffe Dolphins – winning the Intrust Super State Championship Grand Final 42-18.
But this year Sydney is red, white and blue thanks to Cooper Cronk and his broken wing.
