- The dispute between Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk seems to be over
- The pair fell out when Cronk joined the Roosters ahead of the 2018 NRL season
- They met on Wednesday and were both inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame
If a picture is worth a thousand words, it looks like the ugly feud between former Melbourne Storm teammates Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk is finally over.
The pair, who won two NRL championships together, had a bitter falling out after Cronk left the club to join the Roosters shortly after winning their second grand final in 2017.
Cronk stood by his decision to join the Tricolours because he wanted to be closer to his current wife Tara Rushton in Sydney, but Smith was said to be furious at the decision.
Along with his wife Barbara, the champion hooker made his feelings known after failing to attend Cronk’s wedding in 2017.
The scrum-half had the last laugh by winning the championship in his first season at Bondi (against Melbourne) and it looked like the animosity between the high-profile pair would be permanent.
But thankfully the tension was not felt on Wednesday night when former Storm teammates, plus Billy Slater, were inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame.
On stage, a humble Cronk paid tribute to Smith and Slater, with the trio dubbed the ‘Big Three’ at the height of their powers with the Storm, as well as with Queensland at Origin level and with Australia.
Cronk also gained many admirers after acknowledging the recent passing of Smith’s mother.
Football legends Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith (centre) and Billy Slater (right) are pictured in a 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 falling out in 2017 when the scrum-half left Melbourne to join the Roosters.
Cooper Cronk had the last laugh by winning a championship in his first season at Bondi, against Melbourne in the 2018 final (pictured, an angry Cronk after Smith pointed to his injured shoulder)
“I had a work ethic, I aligned myself with some talented people, the best at what they did, and I was also lucky,” he said, reflecting on his career.
‘Everyone has a story – my condolences to Cameron and his family on the passing of his mother. I’m here because my mother made a lot of decisions.
‘Every decision I made helped me be here today. I am very grateful to my family, my wife and everyone who has contributed to me being here.
“I’m just a reflection of being surrounded by people better than me.”
It is telling that both football legends stated that they would not have enjoyed the careers they had if it were not for each other.
Cronk represented the Australian Schoolboys in rugby union before being drafted in by Queensland Cup 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, two of his teammates at the Devils were Smith and Slater.