The NRL has gone into meltdown with the news that Cooper Cronk will leave the Melbourne Storm at the end of the season and may look to continue his career in Sydney.
During an emotional press conference, Cooper Cronk himselfย confirmed that 2017 will be last with the Melbourne Storm.
Cronk will leave the Storm having played 14 years with the club.
The decision was not a football one but instead Cronk was finding thatย travelling between Sydney and Melbourne was taking it's toll on both his football career and his relationship with Fox Sports presenter Tara Rushton.
"It's time I put someone else and something else first."
A decision made from the heart #ThanksCooper pic.twitter.com/uc6YvYM2vc— Melbourne Storm (@storm) April 4, 2017
Cronk also confirmed that at this stage, he has no idea what the future holds for him.
CC: "I am being completely transparent when I say I don't know what I want to do next year" #ThanksCooper #purplepride
— Melbourne Storm (@storm) April 4, 2017
Craig Bellamy: "He's made a decision which allows the Club to plan for the future" #ThanksCooper #purplepride
— Melbourne Storm (@storm) April 4, 2017
The club has also released a statement which can be read below:
Storm halfback Cooper Cronk has today informed the Club that 2017 will be his last season at Melbourne Storm.
During his 15 seasons with Melbourne, Cronk, 33, has built himself into one of the greatest halfbacks of the modern era.
His list of achievements in the purple jersey is almost unmatched.
Cronk has played 306 games for Storm, which sees him sit second on the Club's all-time list behind captain Cameron Smith and his 214 wins ranks as the third most of any player in NRL history.
Both a premiership player and Clive Churchill medallist in 2012, Cronk has been named Dally M Halfback of the Year on five occasions and in 2016 claimed his second Dally M Player of the Year award.
Calm under pressure and a natural-born match winner, Cronk's brilliance has provided Storm fans with a lifetime of unforgettable memories.
He said the decision to leave the Club he has called home for the last 15 years was an extremely difficult one to make.
"Melbourne Storm has been everything to me since moving down here from Brisbane as a kid back in 2003," Cronk said.
"The Club has helped me grow into the person I am today and I will be forever grateful to Craig, the coaches, my teammates and everyone associated with this great Club for making it such a special place to be a part of. I will always be a Melbourne Storm person."
"To our incredible members and fans, we have shared so many special moments together over the years and I promise you I will be doing everything I can to make 2017 a season we will never forget."
Storm CEO Dave Donaghy said that while it was disappointing Cronk would no longer play for Storm, the mercurial halfback will forever remain a legend of the Club.
"What Cooper has achieved here in Melbourne will be remembered by this Club and this city forever," Donaghy said.
"We would have loved nothing more than to see Cooper remain here with us but we understand there are things in life that are more important than football."
"He has given everything to Melbourne Storm over the last 15 years and we look forward to seeing Cooper continue to do so for the remainder of this season and hopefully finish his career with us on a memorable high."
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