Former Sydney Roosters halfback Cooper Cronk has expressed only one concern on his mind about the tri-colours in the Grand Final, and it's something the Newcastle Knights can exploit.
The Roosters are entering the Grand Final as favourites, and have timed their run perfectly for an assault on the premiership competition following a string of late-season losses.
With Newcastle set to come into the contest without their starting hooker Phoenix Crossland, the Roosters shape up as the stronger outfit head-to-head.
Cronk has identified one spot of weakness which could help the Knights claim the title for the first time in 25 years.
“The chink that is in the Roosters' defensive line is Cherry-Evans and Sam Walker,” he said on Fox League's Matty and Cronk.
“They are slight compared to Manuleleua and McEwen. They sometimes get caught up on the back rowers because they're worried about the physicality.
“What I mean by that is when the back rower is running on the inside shoulder, they lean in too much because they're worried about the big back rower running over the top of them.
“That's a chance to get Kalyn (Ponga) out the back and separate and get that three on two.”
Two of the Knights' standout players in 2026 have been their youthful backrow pairing of Manuleleua and McEwen, who have caused plenty of problems for defending halves this year.
If the Knights can get their combinations and game plan right, the Roosters halves pairing will be forced to make plenty of tough defensive decisions.
On the other side of the tunnel, the former Roosters and Storm star has urged Walker and Cherry-Evans to head towards Mark Nawaqanitawase's corner through their kicking game.
The inbound Rugby star holds a significant height advantage over Greg Marzhew, and from what we know about Marky Mark, he doesn't need much to make something magical happen.
“If I'm Daly Cherry-Evans or Sam Walker, and I am anywhere on the field on the last play, I put it on that try-line five times Mark (Nawaqanitawase) will score two or three tries,” Cronk said.
“You can easily say of Marzhew and Mark, Mark is more athletic. But the key part to that is Sam and Cherry-Evans (should) put the ball on the try-line or in the in-goal.
“Don't kick it five metres short. Mark can't jump up and come down with it. He's going to have to tap it back. Put it in the in-goal and say, ‘Good luck, Greg Marzhew'.
“He will need a stepladder, but whatever Holbrook's defensive system comes up with, it's going to have to be bulletproof because I would be going there a lot of times.”
The two sides will meet for the Grand Final showdown on Sunday at 7:30 pm in Sydney.
