Casper The Ghost
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THE Parramatta Eels are chasing Australian and Melbourne halfback Cooper Cronk.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal that Parramatta management has told Cronk's manager Chris Orr that the club is interested in signing him if forced to leave Melbourne.
New Super rugby union franchise the Melbourne Rebels are also interested but claim they have not made a formal approach.
Melbourne could be as much as $1.5 million over their salary cap and Cronk is the player most feel will be pushed elsewhere.
With Kris Keating signing for Canterbury, Parramatta see Cronk, 26, as someone who can lead them to grand final glory.
Cronk was a Kangaroo earlier this year for the Test against New Zealand. He has also played off the bench for Queensland in this season's State of Origin series.
If Parramatta sign Cronk, they would move struggling halfback Daniel Mortimer to five-eighth.
One well-placed Parramatta source said: "We'd love to have Cooper Cronk.
"I know the club has let his management know we would be interested.
"We need a bit of direction in the halves. We have young halves and a dominant fullback.
"We need someone to jump in and take control."
There were rumours over the weekend that the Rebels wanted Cronk, who was an Australian Schoolboy rugby union player in 2001. But Rebels chief executive Patrick Wilson denied the claims.
"We are not targeting any Storm players," Wilson said.
"It is obvious given what is happening at the Storm that there will be conjecture and speculation with the Rebels given they are both Melbourne sides.
"But we are not courting any Storm players."
Bulldogs halfback Brett Kimmorley is certain to retire now that Keating and Manly halfback Trent Hodkinson will be at Canterbury next season.
Link: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...rne-storm-abates/story-e6frexnr-1225884946452
The Daily Telegraph can reveal that Parramatta management has told Cronk's manager Chris Orr that the club is interested in signing him if forced to leave Melbourne.
New Super rugby union franchise the Melbourne Rebels are also interested but claim they have not made a formal approach.
Melbourne could be as much as $1.5 million over their salary cap and Cronk is the player most feel will be pushed elsewhere.
With Kris Keating signing for Canterbury, Parramatta see Cronk, 26, as someone who can lead them to grand final glory.
Cronk was a Kangaroo earlier this year for the Test against New Zealand. He has also played off the bench for Queensland in this season's State of Origin series.
If Parramatta sign Cronk, they would move struggling halfback Daniel Mortimer to five-eighth.
One well-placed Parramatta source said: "We'd love to have Cooper Cronk.
"I know the club has let his management know we would be interested.
"We need a bit of direction in the halves. We have young halves and a dominant fullback.
"We need someone to jump in and take control."
There were rumours over the weekend that the Rebels wanted Cronk, who was an Australian Schoolboy rugby union player in 2001. But Rebels chief executive Patrick Wilson denied the claims.
"We are not targeting any Storm players," Wilson said.
"It is obvious given what is happening at the Storm that there will be conjecture and speculation with the Rebels given they are both Melbourne sides.
"But we are not courting any Storm players."
Bulldogs halfback Brett Kimmorley is certain to retire now that Keating and Manly halfback Trent Hodkinson will be at Canterbury next season.
Link: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...rne-storm-abates/story-e6frexnr-1225884946452
