Cronk v Teflon Smith who is greater?

[Johnny Brass]

Smith has done his legacy no favours in the way he handled Cooper leaving the storm, his sudden retirement from the origin arena when the blues looked set to take over smacked of a man who knew the writing was on the wall and didn't want to lose. Even his latest " I'll play on if they give me enough money " sounds greedy and petulant.
It must burn him that Cooper has one more ring than him and he came out of the whole incident over their fractured relationship looking like a turd.

[chopstiks]

Smith had the upper hand (i.e. facing an injured Cronk) and failed to exploit it.

Also as an influence, Smith was average. Why? Because he let Munster get kicked off twice. One can say that's Munster's fault (and it is) but Smith SHOULD have calmed him down and controlled his behaviour. Slater as well TBH... his behaviour towards the refs was appalling.

Had Smith been the immortal people are all saying then he woulda been whispering positive vibes in their ears, keeping them calm and by doing so, keeping the Drizzle in the game.

With 20 to go the Storm were down by 2 tries and faced an injured half + an injured winger (both with broken bones). It was 100% within their capacity to score 2 tries and I was shyte scared. However, they p!ssed it all away and have Smith to blame for that. IMO serious questions need to now be asked about why the cool headed professional is amoungst the 'big 3' (and GI, who just got done with mid-range DUI + speeding and has previously pleaded guilty to DV charges, for which he was given a suspended sentence). IMO on and off the field, Cronk tops the other 3 contenders from this generation...

"Use your f**king brain. Use it" Slater hollered to Sutton after Vunivalu knocked on and they didn't get the call go their way.

Smith is exactly the same just smug and not as explosive in his abuse. Munster is a by-product of this self righteous attitude, we are better than everyone else and will be treated as such.
Shown by "but im not that type of player" defence. Except you evidently are!

The back to back was so important to storm and their hyped up media.
The back to back was CRONK. Case closed.

[stsae]

This team even stronger than 2013, and the first time since 2013 that we went into a prelim final with a week's rest and full-strength side.

I don't subscribe to the theory we only won because Cronk took the field. This is a close knit team, and the other players backed their ability to carry Cronk, and win the premiership together.

IMO Cronkite and Robbo did a number on Smiff and Bellyache.

Watch Smiffs head when you rewatch the game. Watch from about 60 mins onwards. It clicks hes been double bluffed.

They spent so much time trying to get to Coops they forgot the basics.

Smiff threw at least 3 passes to players feet. He NEVER does that.

He also kicked dead at least twice. He NEVER does that.

And they dropped the pill on our edges looking for No 23 at least 3 times untouched. Cold drops. They NEVER do that.

It took about 60 mins for the penny to drop. No 23 was never in the same spot in the defensive line for more than a set.

The plan worked. They couldn't find the weak link. And when they did they had to overplay it to get at him. That's when they made errors.

The great 2018 double bluff, it should be Easts folklaw now.

[Salvatori Grubber]

"Use your f**king brain. Use it" Slater hollered to Sutton after Vunivalu knocked on and they didn't get the call go their way.

Smith is exactly the same just smug and not as explosive in his abuse. Munster is a by-product of this self righteous attitude, we are better than everyone else and will be treated as such.
Shown by "but im not that type of player" defence. Except you evidently are!

The back to back was so important to storm and their hyped up media.
The back to back was CRONK. Case closed.

I don’t buy that with all respect.

Sure, Slater pushes the envelope on the field because he’s a great competitor. Off the field he is impeccable and a great person.

Why cant we be humble in our victory?

[rented tracksuit]

Too much smoke being blown up Cronk's butt. This team so good that even Finch could have lead us to a win on Sunday.

I tend to agree but no denying he had a huge influence on the field and no denying his toughness and leadership.

I actually think that what happened on Sunday night could redefine the way the game is played in the future. As they said on the commentary, we had 12 players out there and an on field coach in Cronk. Pretty clever on Robbos part. Those two must be in pretty good sync.

[rented tracksuit]

I don’t buy that with all respect.

Sure, Slater pushes the envelope on the field because he’s a great competitor. Off the field he is impeccable and a great person.

Why cant we be humble in our victory?

We should be but I can guarantee they wouldn't have been had they have won.

[Johnny Brass]

IMO Cronkite and Robbo did a number on Smiff and Bellyache.

Watch Smiffs head when you rewatch the game. Watch from about 60 mins onwards. It clicks hes been double bluffed.

They spent so much time trying to get to Coops they forgot the basics.

Smiff threw at least 3 passes to players feet. He NEVER does that.

He also kicked dead at least twice. He NEVER does that.

And they dropped the pill on our edges looking for No 23 at least 3 times untouched. Cold drops. They NEVER do that.

It took about 60 mins for the penny to drop. No 23 was never in the same spot in the defensive line for more than a set.

The plan worked. They couldn't find the weak link. And when they did they had to overplay it to get at him. That's when they made errors.

The great 2018 double bluff, it should be Easts folklaw now.

I agree, Robbo beat Bellamy who is one of the greatest coaches of all time on the chalkboard. Bellamy and Bennett are nearly finished as far as their coaching career goes.
Robbo will take over the mantle as the number one and most respected coach in the game.

[Tommy Smith]

IMO Cronkite and Robbo did a number on Smiff and Bellyache.

Watch Smiffs head when you rewatch the game. Watch from about 60 mins onwards. It clicks hes been double bluffed.

They spent so much time trying to get to Coops they forgot the basics.

Smiff threw at least 3 passes to players feet. He NEVER does that.

He also kicked dead at least twice. He NEVER does that.

And they dropped the pill on our edges looking for No 23 at least 3 times untouched. Cold drops. They NEVER do that.

It took about 60 mins for the penny to drop. No 23 was never in the same spot in the defensive line for more than a set.

The plan worked. They couldn't find the weak link. And when they did they had to overplay it to get at him. That's when they made errors.

The great 2018 double bluff, it should be Easts folklaw now.

Hahah Great post and nailed on

The Storm love their structure and in trying to isolate Cooper the Chameleon they shifted from what works so well for them and made mistakes.

The GF coupled with the Momirovksi call in the Prelim - which was brave but always SPOT ON - and Robbo had an Immortal like performance in this finals series.

Just on Smith btw, he seems like a merkin where as Cooper is a gentleman. However he is a great GREAT player. This Storm team wouldn't have made the top 8 without him and yet here they were in the GF with him.

And yet there is truth to Cronk not getting the dues he deserves as part of the Big 3. The only series QLD lost during their dominant era was when Cronk missed Games 1 & 2 and they had DCE instead playing like a frantic turkey.

Cooper the Chameleon, Cooper the Conductor, Cooper 'Chook' Cronk

[Jacks Fur Coat]

It was a brilliant piece of tactical genius by Robbo.

He turned a big negative for us into a big problem for them.

Coaching at its best right there.

I wont play cards against him.

[chopstiks]

I don’t buy that with all respect.

Sure, Slater pushes the envelope on the field because he’s a great competitor. Off the field he is impeccable and a great person.

Why cant we be humble in our victory?

I am talking about on field!

[QWERTY]

I don’t buy that with all respect.

Sure, Slater pushes the envelope on the field because he’s a great competitor. Off the field he is impeccable and a great person.

Why cant we be humble in our victory?

he did say that to the ref though. probably is a nice person off the field, but doesnt seem like a likable one on it

[QWERTY]

I agree, Robbo beat Bellamy who is one of the greatest coaches of all time on the chalkboard. Bellamy and Bennett are nearly finished as far as their coaching career goes.
Robbo will take over the mantle as the number one and most respected coach in the game.

i reckon Bellemy still has some good coaching left in the tank. Bennett on the other hand should have retired years ago

[Johnny Brass]

i reckon Bellemy still has some good coaching left in the tank. Bennett on the other hand should have retired years ago

I think this will be Bellamy's last coaching contract and he has had 3 superstars in his team. Cronk gone, Slater gone and smith about to finish up he is about to find it hard to stay as motivated or interested. The stress involved in being a head coach in professional sports must be incredible and I have the utmost respect for any coach who can stay at the pointy end of the ladder for 10 years.

[melon....]

Too much smoke being blown up Cronk's butt. This team so good that even Finch could have lead us to a win on Sunday.

Let's not get carried away .

[dice]

Let's not get carried away .

Sorry, I didn't mean to exaggerate. We could have won with anybody and even nobody, except Finch.