Oct 22nd, 2017

Oct 22nd, 2017

Melbourne Storm fullback has responded to reports his long-time teammate Cooper Cronk will continue his NRL career with a Sydney club.

Cronk announced earlier this year that he would be ending his 14-year career in Melbourne to move closer to his fiancee Tara Rushton, who is based in Sydney.

There was speculation Cronk may retire at the end of the 2017 season but last week his agent was reportedly calling for offers from clubs wanting to sign the four-time NRL Premiership-winning player.

The Sydney Roosters are tipped to be the team most likely to secure Cronk's services for next season, but as Slater noted, it would present a problem for the Bondi-based club.

"All the noise is he's going to be playing for the Roosters but there's a few dilemmas with that," Slater told Nine's Sports Sunday.

"There's some key players in the positions that Cooper plays that will have to play another position or move on."

If the Roosters were to make some room for Cronk, whether that be by doing some position shuffling or showing the door to Jake Friend (hooker) or Mitchell Pearce (halfback), it would instantly make the Sydney side one of the top favourites to claim next year's NRL title.

It would also put Slater in the unusual position of facing Cronk for the first time in his career. The pair have only ever been on the same team, whether at club level (Storm), state level (Queensland) or national rep level (Kangaroos). Slater said he would welcome the challenge to face his "extremely competitive" mate.

"We've played alongside each other for 17 years, therefore we've trained alongside each other for 17 years. We're probably two of the most competitive guys on the training paddock," Slater said.

"His private life is in Sydney and he can't continue playing for the Storm which he would have loved to do. If he wants to keep playing he's going to have to play for another club.

"It sounds like he wants to play on. He's a true professional, and his body would be in tip top shape and he's playing great football, so if he decides to play on he'd be a great pick up for any side in Sydney that wants him."