Michael Cronin

Phenomenal point-scoring centre, the leading individual point-scorer in the game's history at the time of his retirement, resisted many offers to come to Sydney before joining P’matta in 1977. Hailing from the South Coast town of Gerringong, Cronin was playing first grade as early as 1969 and set a country record of 316pts from 20 matches in the Group 7 competition in 1971. After representing Country in 1973, he was a shock inclusion in the Kangaroo squad that year but was called into the Test sides against France. Cronin held his place in the three Tests against Great Britain in 1974 but kicked only one goal in the series (Graeme Langlands was goal-kicker - originally it was his ability to break tackles and position his supports that won him his place in the national side). Named ‘Country Player of the Year’ in 1974, Cronin was on board when Country won a rare victory over City the following year before representing Australia in the short-lived World Series competition. 1977 saw him at the crossroads of his career and he decided to play under Terry Fearnley at P’matta after first gaining a release from Canterbury with which he had a verbal agreement for his services. That year, he played in the World Cup competition but missed a goal in the dying minutes of the grand final which resulted in an historic draw against St George - the Eels were subsequently defeated in the replay the following week. In 1978 he achieved almost everything possible in the game except a premiership title. ‘The Crow’ recorded a massive 547pts in 52 matches that year (taking in the Kangaroo Tour and all other rep games) including 282 premiership points (surpassing Eric Simms' record) and a record 26 goals in succession. To cap an amazing year he was named Rothmans Medal winner for the second year in a row. Cronin would have to wait three years for a grand final victory (with Tests against Great Britain, NZ and France in between) and he was again the season's leading point-scorer in 1977-79 and 1982. Cronin was the vital link in the champion P’matta backline that won grand finals in 1982-3 and 1986. Like all great players he seemed to have immeasurable time to step through a gap or position his support. After retiring from rep football in 1982 (with a record 201pts in Tests and 195pts for NSW), his missed goal in P’matta’s 6-4 loss to Canterbury in the 1984 grand final brought back bad memories of 1977. Like a true champion, Cronin bounced back from a serious eye muscle injury suffered in a trial match in early 1986 to leave the game in a blaze of glory. After breaking his ribs in his comeback match, Cronin made his first grade return in the semi-final to steer P’matta into the grand final. Two great pressure goals against Canterbury captured the premiership in his final match, 4-2. He retired after scoring a record 1971pts in ten seasons (still a P’matta club record) with a host of other club records to his credit. In 1990 he returned to coach P’matta during a difficult, disappointing time in the club's history but would have received immense satisfaction in coaching Country to a win over Sydney in 1992. Cronin stood down as Eels coach at the end of the 1993 season.