- Feud between Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk appears to be over
- Pair fell apart when Cronk joined Roosters for the 2018 NRL season
- Were reunited on Wednesday, both inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then it looks like the ugly feud between former Melbourne Storm teammates Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk may finally be over.
The duo, who won two NRL championships together, had a bitter falling out after Cronk left the club to join the Roosters not long after winning his second grand final in 2017.
Cronk was determined to join the Tricolours because he wanted to be closer to his now wife Tara Rushton in Sydney, but Smith was reportedly furious about the decision.
Together with his wife Barbara, the champion prostitute showed his feelings after he was not present at Cronk’s wedding in 2017.
The halfback had the final say by winning the championship title in his first season at Bondi – against Melbourne – and it looked as if the animosity between the pair would be permanent.
Thankfully, there was no tension on Wednesday night as the Storm’s former team-mates – plus Billy Slater – were inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame.
On stage, Cronk paid a modest tribute to Smith and Slater. The trio were dubbed the ‘Big Three’ at the height of their careers with the Storm, but also with Queensland at Origin level and with Australia.
Cronk also gained many admirers after he announced that Smith’s mother had recently died.
Football legends Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith (centre) and Billy Slater (right) are pictured in a very rare moment after being inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame
Football fans were delighted to see Smith and Cronk embrace (pictured) after their bitter feud in 2017 when the halfback left Melbourne to join the Roosters
Cooper Cronk had the final say by winning a championship in his first season at Bondi – against Melbourne in the deciding game of 2018 (pictured an angry Cronk after Smith tackled his injured shoulder)
“I had a good work ethic, I aligned myself with some talented people, the best at what they did, and I was lucky as well,” he said, reflecting on his career.
‘Everyone has a story – condolences to Cameron and his family on the passing of his mother – I’m here [myself] because my mother made a lot of decisions.
“Every decision she made helped me get to where I am today. I am so grateful to my family, my wife and everyone who played a part in me being here.
“I’m just a reflection of the fact that I hang out with better people.”
It is telling that both football legends stated that they would not have had such great careers without each other.
Cronk represented the Australian Schoolboys in rugby before being assigned to Queensland Cup competition side Norths Devils.
Before making his NRL debut with the Storm in 2004, where he played primarily as a utility player in his first season, Smith and Slater were two of his teammates at the Devils.