Melbourne centre Curtis Scott says he owes his premiership ring to Cooper Cronk after a family dinner invite helped keep the teenager's NRL career on track.
Scott is seen as one of the up-and-coming stars of the Storm's next generation, who will aim to maintain Melbourne's high standards after star halfback Cronk moves to Sydney this summer and as they prepare for life after Billy Slater.
The 19-year-old scored a try in Melbourne's 34-6 grand final flogging of North Queensland on Sunday, in what was easily the biggest match of the former Australian Schoolboys representative's career.
But after he broke his leg last year and found himself struggling after moving to Melbourne from Sydney at age 18, Scott said it was Cronk that reached out to him to make a significant difference in his life.
"For someone like him, it shows the calibre of bloke he is," Scott said.
"He could've just turned a blind eye but he invited me over for a few dinners and he really helped me out a heap over the year.
"He just looked after me. I was a little bit homesick, I was injured at one stage.
"If Coops wasn't here, if he didn't help me out the way he did over this year then I wouldn't be here with a premiership ring on my finger. It's a credit to him."
Scott represents a group of budding young stars desperate to continue the legacy of Melbourne's famed big three of Cronk, Billy Slater and Cameron Smith long after their eventual retirements.
The Cronulla junior was the youngest of nine players to play for the club aged 22 or under this year, including the likes of Cronk's heir apparent Brodie Croft, hooker Brandon Smith, fullback Jahrome Hughes and try-scoring wingers Suliasia Vunivalu and Josh Addo-Carr.
"Everyone has seen glimpses of them," Scott said.
"Brodie Croft is a star already but he has a heap of potential and is a switched-on kid and I'm sure he will be ready for next year.
"He has some big shoes to fill but he's up for the challenge and I'm sure he's excited for it."
Share
