League: AFL link may help Cronk kick Aussies over the line

Cooper Cronk. Photo / Getty Images

It's not often AFL get credit for giving league anything - but in the countdown to the World Cup final, Cooper Cronk says learning his trade in the AFL-dominated city of Melbourne has helped make him the league player he is.

When Cronk runs out for the Kangaroos against the Kiwis it will be the 29-year-old's 21st test for Australia and his 13th as starting halfback.

To put that in perspective, that will place Cronk ahead of some of the finest players to ever wear the No 7 jumper, including Andrew Johns who started 12 tests at halfback and Steve Mortimer and Ricky Stuart who both started in seven games at halfback.

Cronk couldn't believe it this week when told league legend Arthur Summons rated him as halfback in his best ever Kangaroos team, some compliment given Summons is 87 and one of the most respected men to represent Australia.

But when asked to analyse the secret to his own success, Cronk talked about his amazing work ethic, and how he refused to allow a lack of natural ability to stand in his way.

"I found out early on that I probably didn't have the natural flair or ability of some people and I found that my strength was my work ethic, and I used that to the best of my ability.

"I remember when I first got the halfback job there were two areas I had to work on - my kicking game and my defence - and Craig [Bellamy] said to me as long as I did those two well each and every week he would pick me."

So Cronk went out and worked so hard on his defence that he turned himself into the best defensive halfback in the competition today - and with his kicking game he sought out one of the top AFL kicking coaches who helped transform him into a league player who today boasts arguably the best kicking game in the world.

"Technically I got taught how to kick a ball properly like AFL players ... I spent hours on it. First of all with Kevin Ball [a biomechanics specialist who has worked with many of the AFL's top clubs and players]."

As a result, the kid who started out at the Storm a decade ago is widely recognised as one of the greatest halfbacks of all time and the man who could determine Australia's fortunes in tomorrow's World Cup decider.