NRL: Pearce right to be upset, says Cronk

Cooper Cronk during a training session. Photo / AAP

Sydney Roosters mega-signing Cooper Cronk says Mitchell Pearce has every right to be upset about his arrival at the NRL club, but he's called for players to have a team-first mentality.

Pearce's future at the Roosters is under a cloud after they signed test halfback Cronk for two years.

It is believed Pearce has already requested permission to negotiate with rival NRL clubs, despite extending his contract at the Roosters in February until the end of the 2019 season.

Cronk said he could understand why fellow halfback Pearce would feel aggrieved.

"It's easy for me because I'm not the one that's been put up in the paper and asked questions about," Cronk said in Kangaroos camp in Canberra yesterday.

"He probably has every right to be disappointed and upset.

"But as I've said, as long as every player in the Roosters team and every team - even the Kangaroos team - if you've got a selfless mindset, have a team-first mentality ... then you've got everyone rowing in the same direction.

"You enjoy coming to training because everyone's buying in for the common cause."

Cronk spoke on Monday to Pearce, who is believed to be on holiday in the US as he decides his next move.

The Kangaroos halfback was adamant he wanted Pearce and five-eighth Luke Keary to stay at Bondi Junction and was ready to compete with them for a starting role.

"I'll tell you this; one of the reasons for me to sign and play at the Roosters next year was to play with Mitchell Pearce," he said.

"I think he's got an arsenal of weapons that not too many halves have in this game and I think he has the ability to be a dominant force in the halves for the years to come.

"I want to say this clearly, at no stage am I thinking of going to the Roosters in 2018 and taking over and wanting to be front and centre because that's not my personality."

Cronk said he would be prepared to be relegated to the bench if that was what coach Trent Robinson decided at any stage.