FROM GERRINGONG TO SYDNEY Cronin — king-pin of back-line

Press, 25 May 1977, Page 24

FROM GERRINGONG TO SYDNEY Cronin — king-pin of back-line

By

JOHN COFFEY

The Paramatta and Australian rugby league coach, Mr Terry Fearnley, achieved a coup over his Sydney rivals when he persuaded the outstanding centre, Mick Cronin, to forsake his association with the country club, Gerringong, and continue his football career in the metropolitan premiership.

Cronin, one of the star performers in the Australian squad which will meet South Island at the Show Grounds tonight and New Zealand at Auckland on Sunday, had resisted mammoth monetary offers for the previous four

years until he was signed by Parramatta this season. The prolific-scoring Cro-

nin still prefers the quiet life of a country publican

and drives more than 1000 km each week to train and play for Parramatta. The extensive mileage has in no way reduced his effectiveness and he has thrived in the more professional atmosphere of Sydney rugby league.

It w’as in 1973 that Cronin, the latest in a long line of skilled country backs, first gained the attention of the city talent scouts, although there was some criticism of his selection for the Kangaroo side which toured Britain and France that year.

The critics were silenced when Cronin returned with the highest

individual aggregate and a permanent place in the Australian test back-line. He has been an automatic choice in the ensuing seasons, and New Zealand opponents have been especially aware of his ability to stamp an indelible mark on major matches. Canterbury, at the Show Grounds in 1974, conceded a try and six goals to Cronin when he toured New Zealand with the New South Wales Country team. Cronin had a similar return against New Zealand at Auckland in the second world championship fixture in 1975, having gone one better at Brisbane a few months earlier with two tries and another six goals. His double-figure analysis continued when he claimed the seemingly inevitable try to complement his four goals against Auckland. Now 26 years of age, and strongly-built at sft Ilin and I3st 101 b, Cronin is a creator, as well as a finisher, of try-scoring movements. His running is powerful and straight and his astute timing has been of the utmost benefit to his wings at club and international levels. The Cronin method of defence seldom follows the classical copybook style. He prefers a solid head-on defence which not only halts the ball-carrier but also prevents him from re-

leasing possession to his supports. The frequent brilliance of Cronin will not be Australia’s only mid-field asset during its short tour. If the playing surfaces are firm, the Kangaroo threequarters and full-backs can be expected to pose a severe threat to their rivals.

Mark Harris has been rated as the toughest wing in the code, and his facial scars from many a football battle and his brief term as a gridiron player in Canada give credence to his reputation. The rugged Harris is a veteran of the 1970 and 1972 World Cup tournaments and has also represented Australia in the centres.

The 1973 trip to Britain and France, which did so much to bring Cronin into prominence, was also the stage on which Steve Rogers emerged as a centre of extreme potential. Rogers was then only 18 years of age and in succeeding years he has honed his promise into the finished product, so much so that he now wears the crown which once sat so securely on the head of Bobby Fulton. Perhaps the short New Zealand itinerary will lead to similar development by another centre, Mark Thomas, one of five new internationals in the squad. Thomas, aged 22, had made only four first grade appearances in Brisbane before this season, but clinched his position with rousing efforts in two inter-state fixtures

against New South Wales last week. Graham Eadie, who has been looked upon as the logical successor to the now-retired Graeme Langlands since he took over from an injured Langlands in France four years ago, is the only specialist fullback in the side, Weighing more than 14st, Eadie has sufficient pace to penetrate even the firmest of defences and he did well in the 1975 world chant: pionship series. Once again, Russell Fairfax is left waiting in the wings. Australia has covered the risk of Eadie suffering mishap by including the utility, Allan McMahon. Now with Balmain in Sydney, McMahon was a team-mate of Cronin’s for New South Wales Country and was in New Zealand with the Sydney Metropolitan side last September.