Scottie Pippen, Keith Richards, that punk B2 … they all know a thing or two about playing second banana, but not too many genuine superstars have lived life as a third wheel.

Cooper Cronk has.

With the Melbourne half-back approaching his last game for the Storm and possibly in the NRL, it's time to start contemplating how he will be regarded when all is said and done.

Cronk was basically a man out of place in the early years of his career, but so many of the things that made him a slow starter are the very things that make his stardom all the more impressive.

Matt Orford wasn't surrendering the number seven jersey and his other favourite position was being hogged by a guy named Cameron Smith (more on him later).

Cooper Cronk struggled to carve out a regular role in the Melbourne Storm side early on in his career. ( AAP: Jeff Crow )

He spent the early years wearing a jersey number in the teens as his cerebral approach to the game was paired with a nearly unmatched work ethic, but not a clearly applicable skillset — playing basically every position bar prop.

He impressed coach Craig Bellamy enough that when Orford left ahead of the 2006 season Cronk got first crack at replacing him.

That's when his 'first in, last out' approach to training started to pay off. He learned how to be great. You can see him thinking and scheming out there as he guides Melbourne, Queensland or Australia around the park.

And that guidance is what makes him a legend of the game, despite being kept somewhat in the shadows by circumstance.

His is a sneaky greatness. The two Dally M Medals he won in some ways feel like accidents.

As a 300-gamer for the Storm, Cooper Cronk is a crowd favourite at AAMI Park. ( AAP: Tracey Nearmy )

On a game-by-game basis, Cronk's influence is clear, but playing with a future Immortal in Smith and the greatest full-back of all time in Billy Slater puts him at risk of slipping between the pages of the history books.

Then you look at his State Of Origin legacy and it's even harder to get his head above the pack, two more probable Immortals, Darren Lockyer and Johnathan Thurston, front of mind.

But, to paraphrase Joni Mitchell, you don't know what you've got until it's gone, and watching the Storm or Maroons without Cronk really drives home how much he means out there.

Consider the Maroons' dynastic run in the past decade and the one series they lost. It's no coincidence Cronk only played one whole game in 2014 and Queensland, for the first time since 2007, looked regularly listless.

With JT and Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk formed a terrific key trio in Origin football for Queensland. ( AAP: Paul Miller )

After that, due to a combination of Cronk's brilliance, Slater's injuries and the public's short memories, the half-back was officially elevated to the third spot in the Maroons' 'Big Three'.

For all the game-breaking ability of Thurston or Slater and the leadership of Smith, it was apparent no-one had more influence on his teammates than Cronk.

Listen to them talk about him, watch team huddles, watch them during play — Cronk is the man who decides what the team is going to do.

Of course, he can be overruled by JT when one of those moments of genius hits him. Smith can easily decide not to go his way and no-one's going to blame him, he's the best hooker ever and another future Immortal.

Cooper Cronk's understanding with Billy Slater has been a big plus for the Storm for more than a decade. ( AAP: Julian Smith )

And Slater, well he's the magic man, and Cronk's just an intermediary.

Imagine trying to stand out in that crowd.

Leading your team up, down and around the field is never going to work as a highlight play, but if you watch him closely on Sunday, you'll see a man in total control of a historically great team.

Don't let him be consigned to history as the Dennis Rodman, Ronnie Wood or Rat in the Hat of this era. He deserves better than that.