The Melbourne Storm have hatched a succession plan to ensure the legacy of the "big three" doesn't diminish in their absence, highlighting a desire for Cameron Smith to play until the end of 2019.

With halfback Cooper Cronk calling it quits after Sunday night's premiership triumph, the Storm will now move to ensure fullback Billy Slater and Smith don't finish their careers at the same time.

Slater has been offered a one-year extension and is expected to commit to the club in the coming days. Smith is also off contract at the end of 2018 but the Storm want the No.9 to play on and become the first player to bring up 400 games.

The possibility of Slater and Smith finishing up together is a dilemma the Storm want to avoid. Melbourne are mindful of the impact the potential simultaneous retirements of two future immortals would have on the organisation, something the Australian cricket team felt when Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer hung up the whites together in 2007.