Mick Cronin (rugby league)

Michael Cronin (born in Gerringong, New South Wales, Australia) was an Australian rugby league player.

Cronin's first grade career began in 1969 for Gerringong. He was selected to play for Country in 1973 where he impressed enough to make the Kangaroo tour, where he played in 5 tests. Cronin played in Country's historic 1975 win over City. He later moved to Parramatta where he went on to play in four winning grand finals including his last match, the 1986 grand final where he kicked both goals in the Eels' 4-2 victory over Canterbury. His point-scoring feats were phenomenal, scoring 316 points for Gerringong in the group 7 competition of 1971, 547 points in the Kangaroo tour season of 1978 with a record 26 goals kicked in succession and he was also the leading try-scorer in the 1982 season. He won back to back Rothman's medals in 1977-78. Cronin played for Christian Brothers (now Edmund Rice) in the Illawarra competition as an under 12. He was so good that when his team made the semi-finals the opposition appealed against Cronin's inclusion on residence grounds, claiming he was from Gerringong. Bigotry against the catholics was high and Cronin was banned. It was thought Cronin harboured a deep hatred against Illawarra Rugby League until he accepted an invitation to open the Steelers' International walkway in 1992. Cronin's retirement alongside Ray Price led a 10 year decline for Parramatta and Cronin's return as coach in 1990 was impossible to succeed as the playing roster was at its weakest for years. Cronin also coached Rod Wishart at Gerringong where he is publican.