Three Sydney Club's in million dollar tug of war to sign Cooper Cronk.

Dean Ritchie Exclusive, The Daily TelegraphOctober 22, 2017 7:00pmTHREE clubs have cleared $1 million in salary cap space as the battle for the prized signature of Kangaroos halfback Cooper Cronk hots up.The Daily Telegraph can exclusively reveal that the Sydney Roosters, Cronulla and Parramatta are engaging in an all-out battle for Cronk and have manoeuvred themselves into a position whereby they won’t have to shed any players to land him.It is understood Parramatta would use the money that was freed up by the departure of star winger Semi Radradra to French rugby to throw at Cronk.The Eels already had spare salary cap money up their sleeve which, coupled with the money saved on Radradra, takes their war chest to $1 million.They are now genuine players in the race for Cronk.While the Roosters remain firm favourites to sign Cronk, Parramatta’s wealth and power would be attractive to the former Storm halfback.“Who wouldn’t be interested in Cooper Cronk?” Eels chairman Max Donnelly said. “Any club that has room to move in the cap would have to at least consider him.”Pressed on whether his club had the sufficient salary cap room to sign Cronk, Donnelly said: “I’m not going to go into those operational issues. But we have some room in our cap, yes.”The Roosters played around $650,000 under the salary cap this year.They are now set to release Jayden Nikorima a year early from his $350,000-a-season contract to free up $1 million to pursue Cronk without having to offload any other players, including Mitchell Pearce and Jake Friend.It is understood Nikorima, a 2016 Junior Kangaroo, will head back to the Brisbane Broncos.Well-placed sources revealed that Cronulla were also $1 million under the salary cap and had expressed interest in signing Cronk, who wants to play for another two seasons.“The club wouldn’t have to shed any players if they went after Cronk,” the Sharks source said.Cronk announced in April that he was moving to Sydney to be closer to fiancee Tara Rushton. The pair have already bought a home in Mosman.Manly haven’t entered the Cronk race but he could be viewed as a replacement for Blake Green, who has attracted interest from the New Zealand Warriors.There might be some resistance within Parramatta about chasing Cronk given the club has established halves in Corey Norman and Mitchell Moses.Eels chief executive Bernie Gurr did not return calls and coach Brad Arthur was returning home from an overseas holiday.

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Replies

iamnot October 23, 2017 at 7:47am

Cronulla always seem to be under the cap, irrespective of the million dollar players they sign. They are becoming the new Roosters, who somehow also seem to be always under the cap
Baby Eel October 23, 2017 at 7:47am

Even if we do get him, we a splurging 750,000’on Norman. What happens to him
Outrunna October 23, 2017 at 7:56am

Ha!!!! Roosters wont have to shed any players to get cronk and they played $650k under the cap... BS.....

Jayden Nikorima who hasnt even played 1 game of first grade apparantly gets $350k a year...

Utter BS.,

Also if the Eels have $1million to spend i would rather buy 2 good players at $500k then a 33 year old Cronk
- Alistair Shaw > Outrunna October 23, 2017 at 8:48am
  
  I had a giggle Outrunner how they conveniently come to a lazy mill
- Baby Eel > Outrunna October 23, 2017 at 10:50am
  
  2 500k players would be fantastic
Wile E. Coyote October 23, 2017 at 7:57am

This only makes sense if either
1. The rumours about Corey are true
2. We can’t let Roosters win an auction without competing bids
Mitchy October 23, 2017 at 7:58am

I have to laugh at this. An all out battle? They must be desperate to sell some papers.
- Wile E. Coyote > Mitchy October 23, 2017 at 8:00am
  
  Good point
  Forgot about
  3. Media beat up
hindy October 23, 2017 at 8:32am

The roosters never lose so there’s no battle
Longfin Eel October 23, 2017 at 8:49am

I just can't see Parra seriously going after Cronk - this would throw out the work we have done this year to establish our halves pairing. What would we do in two years time when he does retire? Dylan Brown would probably still be too young to step up to fill the void. I reckon Parra is after a cheap buy in the fallout, and this is just to tell all the player managers that we are ready to spend if the right player come along.