NRL legend shocks fans with stunning cross-code switch

Former NRL premiership winner Cooper Cronk will hope to add his Midas touch to Greater Western Sydney after being recruited to the AFL club's coaching staff.

GWS confirmed on Wednesday said Cronk had joined the Giants as a leadership consultant after drawing the curtain on his 16-season NRL career that featured four titles - including the last three premierships - from a staggering nine grand finals.

The Giants reached out to Cronk as they looked to rebound from a stellar 2019 AFL season that ended with a devastating 89-point grand final loss to Richmond.

Cronk, 35, looks set to be kept busy in his retirement after already announcing he had signed on as a part-time specialist halves coach with his former NRL club Sydney Roosters.

Giants board member Jimmy Bartel last month confirmed their interest in luring the ex-Test and Queensland playmaker to their coaching staff for 2020 in the hope his professional approach would rub off on their players and club culture.

"It's his leadership, it's his experience, just everything he brings to the table. Of course we'd love to get him involved," Bartel told Macquarie Sports Radio in October.

Cronk follows the lead of former Melbourne teammate Billy Slater who has been juggling roles at the Storm and AFL outfit St Kilda since his NRL retirement.

Former Test fullback Slater joined the Saints' leadership and development programs in a newly-created role in late 2018 after pulling the pin on his stellar 323-game NRL career last year.

"I am looking forward to working with the Giants and the team," Cronk told News Corp Australia.

"During my career I was able to learn many aspects to leadership and performance which I hope to convey to assist the club in achieving its goals."

Giants coach Leon Cameron said Cronk's resume spoke for itself.

"The majority of the reason for the appointment is because of his high performance," he said.

"No doubt his experiences are part of it but a lot of it is just how rounded he is as a person and how he just oozes high performance.

"If that rubs off on an 18-year-old guy that we draft this year or a 33-year-old Heath Shaw that's been in the system for a long time, it's only going to be a good thing."

Cronk is set to start his Giants stint later this month.