How the Roosters' spine will look with Cronk

With the Roosters closing in on superstar halfback Cooper Cronk, speculation is intensifying regarding how the Tricolours will look in 2018.

Fox Sports journalist Paul Kent had the inside word on how Trent Robinson plans to balance the attacking flair of Jake Friend, Mitch Pearce, Luke Keary and Cooper Cronk - should the superstar halfback go with the Bondi club.

"Cooper will go in at seven, now I think he likes the look of Mitchell at number six, Keary off the bench," Kent said.

"There's also a thought about getting Jake Friend to play less minutes, and out of those less minutes somebody comes off the bench, either Pearce or Keary."

Watch Kent's take in the video at the top of the page.

The race to sign Cooper Cronk is now seemingly down to two NRL clubs after Parramatta pulled out of the running to secure his signature.

The Eels were believed to be in the picture alongside the Sydney Roosters and Cronulla to lure the Sydney-bound Melbourne halfback to the club next season.

But Parramatta chief executive Bernie Gurr has told News Corp Australia they would stick with their current halves combination of Corey Norman and Mitchell Moses for next year.

"We're not in the race for Cooper Cronk," Gurr said.

"When we looked at our roster and our positional needs we have opted to go in another direction."

Cronk sparked the latest series of headlines when he told his manager George Mimis last week he was ready to explore options to play on in Sydney next season.

The Roosters remain the favourites to secure the Queensland and Australian halfback, but Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan has also declared his interest in Cronk.