Cooper Cronk reckons he's too old to be fazed by critics of his early season form for the Sydney Roosters.
Cronk said on Monday those criticising didn't really know what was going on, though he accepted scrutiny came with the territory following his high-profile move from Melbourne.
Cooper Cronk has been subject to criticism since his move to the Roosters.
Photo: AAP
While the Roosters appeared to turn a corner with their 32-0 away win over the high-flying Warriors at the weekend, 34-year-old Cronk's contribution was increasingly questioned as the pre-season favourites turned in patchy efforts over the opening nine rounds.
Some asked whether he was justifying his reported $1 million-a-season salary and whether he was scrutinised at the same level as the man he replaced, Mitchell Pearce.
Cronk said he didn't have a problem with anyone criticising him – but he didn't necessarily agree with them.
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"It's fair and reasonable," Cronk said. "In the 24-7 news cycle we live in these days you open yourself up. I'm too old to worry about things like that but I take criticism and compliments in the same breath.
"At the end of the day those opinions don't know what's truly going on."
Asked whether the critics had a point about his form, Cronk said: "Everyone's opinion is valid. Is it relevant? That's the question. Is it accurate? That's the other question."
Following their Anzac Day loss to St George Illawarra, Rooster coach Trent Robinson conceded that his side had been too structured in their style.
Cronk said they'd adjusted to play more freewheeling football at times but all teams needed organisation to fall back on.
"The structure is still there, whether it's the Dragons or it's the team on the bottom, they have a structure in place that they think wins football games," Cronk said.
"The teams that do it well, execute it better than most."
Some statistics suggest Cronk's game has not been as lacking in sharpness as suggested.
In the opening 10 weeks, he has come up with nine try assists, the seventh-most in the competition.
It's the same number as St George Illawarra No.7 Ben Hunt, widely considered the form playmaker.
It's also comparable to what he did at the Storm where he averaged between 0.9 to 1.36 try assists per game in his final five years.
Cronk By The Numbers
A look at Cooper Cronk's NRL try assist numbers over the last six years
2018 – 9 try assists, 10 games
2017 – 23 try assists, 22 games
2016 – 29 try assists, 26 games
2015 – 21 try assists, 23 games
2014 – 26 try assists, 19 games
2013 – 30 try assists, 26 games
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