BY CURTIS WOODWARD

@woodward_curtis

Twelve years ago North Queensland and the Melbourne Storm squared up in their first ever finals clash with the Cowboys running out 24-16 winners.

Matt Orford was the skipper and halfback of the Storm, Greg Inglis the fullback with Cameron Smith at hooker.

The Cowboys boasted Johnathan Thurston, Matt Bowen and Matt Sing.

A bunch of journeymen and workhorses littered the interchange benches. Names like Jacob Lillyman, Alex Chan and Mitchell Sargent. History tells their story and it also leads to another – a journey unlike any of his teammates or rivals from that night.

There on the Storm bench – in jersey number 15 is the name Cooper Cronk. An obscure utility player yet to make his name. Perhaps the bigger question at the time was ‘who is this kid and what’s his best position?’

The answer was ‘who knows’ to both.

We all know his story now. We all know he’s a different kind of cat who speaks with an eloquence rarely heard in the rugby league world. His deep love for his job only beaten by his deeper love for his fiancée.

This is a man that has built himself to be one of the greatest halfbacks in the history of the game.

On Sunday night he faces the Cowboys in Sydney again with most believing he’s ready to ride into the sunset if and when his good mate Smith holds aloft the premiership trophy.

Cronk is the epitome of application. The definition of hard work. And when coach Craig Bellamy is old and the bright lights are replaced by memories – he’ll look back at his “Big Three”.

Billy Slater had the x-factor, Smith the brain and Cronk had the will. Bellamy will never admit it or perhaps he couldn’t if he tried, but there’s no doubting Bellamy and Cronk are more alike than they will ever imagine.

They don’t speak or think the same away from the footy field but there’s no two men more alike when it comes to determination and a willingness to run through that next wall when everyone else is ready to call it a day.

Not even Bellamy knew what he had with Cronk way back in 2005. Cronk didn’t know either.

But rugby league rewards those that don’t give in.

On Sunday, Cronk probably plays his last NRL game. Anyone that knows him will tell you there’s nothing out of his control.

Which makes you think, he knows all too well that Sunday’s game will be his very last.

This kick pass from Cooper Cronk is superb! 👏 pic.twitter.com/X8pqZrTHNT

— In At The Side (@Inattheside) July 12, 2017

“My game is all about consistency and doing the right things for this team and if I start thinking, this is my last game of the finals, emotionally you start riding that rollercoaster,” Cronk recently said.

“My job on the field is not to be emotional, it’s to be consistent and keep everything going the same direction.”

Coach Paul Green announces Matt Scott is out. Meanwhile Cooper Cronk is trying his best to avoid a week of tributes. #TenNews @AdamHawse pic.twitter.com/cuGVHnGCLk

— 10 News First Sydney (@10NewsFirstSyd) September 25, 2017

Typical answer.

300-odd NRL matches, Australian and Queensland jersey, premierships and a legacy Melbourne can work off for decades to come isn’t such a bad gift to leave behind.

None too shabby for a kid on the bench that nobody knew what to do with.

@woodward_curtis