Billy Slater: Playing Cooper Cronk would be ‘weird’

MELBOURNE Storm superstar Billy Slater admits the prospect of playing against Cooper Cronk next year would be “weird”.

MELBOURNE Storm superstar Billy Slater says giving Cooper Cronk the “ultimate send-off” with a premiership isn’t a motivating factor going into Sunday’s grand final at ANZ Stadium.

Slater, 34, said the decider was about “every individual” doing their job.

“As important as it is to send him out on a good note this is much more than Cooper Cronk, this is about the Melbourne Storm,” Slater said.

“I won’t be doing anything different this week in my preparation knowing that it’s Cooper’s last game.

“I’m sure Cooper would say himself that it’s not about him.

“The result will take care of itself and if we perform well Cooper will get the send off that he deserves at Melbourne Storm.”

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Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk may both play their last games for the Storm this weekend.

Cronk, 34, remains undecided on his future but revealed he had already started packing boxes for the impending move to Sydney.

Slater admitted the possibility of squaring off against Cronk would be “weird”.

The premiership stars have played on the same team since their junior days in Brisbane.

“It would be really weird playing against Cooper and seeing him in a different coloured jersey but at the same time that’s Cooper’s decision,” Slater said.

“He’s earned the right to do whatever he wants and take as long as he needs to.”

#SuperCoach @storm #BringTheThunder pic.twitter.com/YsiG7r431b

— Gilbert Gardiner (@gilbertgardiner) September 25, 2017

Cooper Cronk has confirmed he will leave the Storm.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy is luxuriously placed with only a handful of players unavailable for the big dance.

The entire squad trained lightly on Monday at Gosch’s Paddock before about 1000 fans.

Young Tonumaipea, Nate Myles, Mark Nicholls and Joe Stimson look set to be named today in the 21-man grand final squad.

Slater yesterday said the result on Sunday would have no bearing on his future.

Prop Jesse Bromwich, fullback Billy Slater, coach Craig Bellamy, captain Cameron Smith and centre Will Chambers pose for the Melbourne Storm team photo.

“It’s more about whether I feel like I can do it (again), if I thought it was going to be a waste I’d probably go around next year, but I feel like I’m getting everything out of myself,” the off-contract fullback said.

“I really enjoy playing rugby league, that’s what it comes down to and that’s why the decision hasn’t been made to call it quits, I just need to make sure that I’m 100 per cent confident that I can contribute next year in the way that I’m doing it now.”

Slater has played 20 games this season, he leads Storm in try assists (16) and offloads (39).

He moved to outright third in tries (10) — behind Suliasi Vunivalu (23) and Josh Addo-Carr (21) — with a double against Brisbane.

Big 🏆week starts here 📸 for @storm #BringTheThunder #NRLFinals #NRLGF pic.twitter.com/WKsJW5aLLw

— Gilbert Gardiner (@gilbertgardiner) September 25, 2017