COOPER Cronk could focus on nothing else but his broken shoulder leading into the NRL grand final, and only now he sees the game for what it was — a symphony of good fortune. Put simply, he hit the rugby league jackpot.

In his first interview since his grand final heroics last month, the 34-year-old Roosters halfback reveals how grateful he is that the secrecy paid off, his thoughts on Australia’s recent Tests and why Luke Keary has the world at his feet.

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On the morning of September 30, it was less a team bus and more serendipity that delivered Cronk to ANZ Stadium and consequently into the history books.

Round 20

Nursing what we now know to be a broken scapula in a sling under the guise of a ‘rotator cuff injury’, Cronk took his needles and suited up, not knowing if the painstaking energy and effort of the week would be worth it. It could have all blown up in his face.

“It was so one dimensional. I didn’t allow any emotion or any subplots to come into play so now that I’m able to reflect on it, I suppose it was a perfect-world scenario,” he tells foxsports.com.au.

Cooper Cronk didn’t allow himself to think about the emotion of playing his former teammates in the grand final. Source: News Corp Australia

“The whole game. It could have been a big bomb that blew up in our face. The needle may not have worked, I could have made 20 more tackles and missed them all.

“The one thing I keep coming back to is the Roosters are a terrific organisation but they’re even better people.

“For it all to happen the way it did, there was so much hard work that went into it and people sacrificed a lot for it to happen but I also think we got pretty lucky too.

“The conversations would have been about how it was a mistake that I played if we had have lost. I feel like I’m very fortunate and so grateful for how it all happened.”

In hindsight, the pieces were falling into place for the perfect scenario.

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The secrets

He was at the right club with the right staff, with exceptional secret-keepers and teammates who would do anything to help him succeed. Just as he did for them.

For without their unquestioning obedience to rehash the ‘rotator cuff injury’ line, Cronk could not have played.

“When you’ve got good people involved who understand, we’re all rowing in the same direction, these things can be achieved,” he says.

“We weren’t transparent with all the information that was coming out but there was no other way to do it.

Will he or won’t he? Cooper Cronk maintained he has a rotator cuff injury in the lead up to the epic decider. Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Corp Australia

“If people had have known what exactly the injury was it would have made the week worse for the team and for me personally.

“Everyone is complimenting the game and our performance, but when I look back at it now I think it could have gone the other way so easily. I’m not sitting here carrying on with the result and what we did, I just feel grateful that it all paid off.”

Post-season recovery

In the time since, Cronk has had plates inserted onto his shoulder blade, despite having the option to let it heal naturally. Although, with such unusual circumstance around the injury, it was decided it was best to reinforce the bone given it will be enduring the same contact that caused it to break again next season.

He has also become the Kangaroos’ biggest fan.

“I was jumping up and down on the couch going ‘go boys’ and supporting the players that I knew from Melbourne, the Roosters, the guys that I’ve played rep football with,” he says.

“I felt like I was a supporter of the Kangaroos.

Cooper Cronk has played for the Kangaroos consistently since 2009. Pic: Mark Evans Source: News Corp Australia

“I’ve only ever been in that situation once before and that was during Origin this year. Watching Origin I was just able to admire it. I haven’t actually watched an Origin game for a long time so I was able to enjoy the spectacle, what it means to people and how many fans watch it and I was able to appreciate the enormity of it.

“I got to experience what fans experience for the first time in a long time, and I didn’t mind it at all.”

New generation of Roos

Cronk’s retirement from the green and gold No.7 jersey was part of a significant player exodus from the Australia team, including Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Johnathan Thurston as well as unavailable players the likes of Michael Morgan and Matt Gillett.

With such a big turnover, Cronk says it’s unfair to compare players against players and generations against generations.

“You need to let guys do what they need to do to cement their own spots and build their own reputations,” he says.

Although he admits Australia went through a learning curve against New Zealand, their backs-against-the-wall approach against Tonga impressed him.

He says Mal Meninga’s decision to hand Daly Cherry-Evans the keys to the team was a smart move, allowing the Manly halfback to mentally and physically prepare for the task ahead.

Cooper Cronk says Roosters teammate Luke Keary can be anything. Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Corp Australia

As for Clive Churchill Medal winner Luke Keary, there’s something special between his ears.

“He’s developed a lot in the past few years. He has the physical capabilities of how he can skip across defenders with his speed, he’s always improved that, but his mental approach now has gone up a few levels in the past 18-24 months,” Cronk says.

“He understands his strengths and weaknesses and how to control a game now.

“The grand final will be an exclamation point in his career. There’s no real ceiling on what Luke can do next.

“I had the fortune of playing at Melbourne where you are never allowed to fail. The coaching staff and resources support you all the way until you reach your potential and Luke has that same opportunity at the Roosters.

“The two clubs have a very similar culture and similar coaching staff who give you everything you need to be your best, it’s up to the player how far they take it.”

If you’re Cooper Cronk, you take it all the way.