COOPER Cronk has become the first player in the history of the NRL to win back-to-back grand finals with rival clubs in a famous moment of rugby league folklore.His injury secret was finally revealed just minutes after the full time siren when captain Boyd Cordner revealed the star playmaker had no right to even be on the field.As the Storm chased their own piece of history — a chance to become the first team to win back-to-back grand finals in 25 years — it was their former favourite son who popped up to deny them.In the process the 34-year-old created a chapter of rugby league folklore as he took the field and had an immense hand in his team’s stunning 21-6 grand final triumph over the Storm, despite
suffering a major shoulder injury just last week.Cronk’s back-to-back triumphs with different teams hasn’t been seen in the NRL. It was last achieved by Johnny Mayes when he won with the Roosters and Sea Eagles in 1973-74 NSWRL.Cronk hobbled off the field in the final few minutes a spent force.His tears of pain were followed by the tears of Storm superstar Billy Slater after the full time siren, which ended his illustrious career in the cruellest of circumstances.It wasn’t the fairytale a champion like Slater deserved — but, after putting his broken body on the line like he did, nobody deserved the grand final win more than Cronk.Even Slater, in the moment his fabled career was ended in misery, admitted the moment belonged to Cronk and the Roosters.“That’s the way it goes sometimes,” Slater said.
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