A wounded Cooper Cronk admits his chances of playing Sunday’s grand final are slim. And Billy Slater faces the same predicament over a shoulder charge.

Naveen Razik reports.

TRANSCRIPT

He played through the pain after sustaining a shoulder injury against the Rabbitohs, but Cooper Cronk faces an uphill battle to back up on Sunday.

Cooper Cronk, Roosters halfback: “Don’t know what my realistic chances are, but, I’m a long shot. That’s not lying. Pain is what it is, you make it out to be whatever you want it to be.”

As Cronk races against the clock, Billy Slater faces a nervous wait to see if his suspension will be overturned.

The brother of James Ackerman, a Sunshine Coast footballer killed by a fatal shoulder charge, weighing into the debate.

Andrew Ackerman: “I don’t have any hate for towards Billy Slater or the Melbourne Storm. My hate is towards the shoulder charge.”

He’s backed off the map in betting to win the Brownlow Medal but Tom Mitchell is expecting tonight’s award to be more than a one horse race.

Tom Mitchell, Hawthorn midfielder: “Y’know I don’t really have any expectations coming in I just want to enjoy the night with some of my team mates.”

Meanwhile, the West Coast Eagles held their open training session this morning ahead of the grand final at Subiaco Oval.

Australia’s cricketers are sweating it out in the arid desert heat, coach Justin Langer pushing his squad to perform in tough conditions ahead of their series against Pakistan.

Nathan Lyon, Australian spinner: “We’ve got a one find a way to survive here in subcontinent conditions but also find a way to score runs as well.”

The first test begins on the 7th of October in Dubai.

Naveen Razik, QUT News.