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​The Dynasty Is Over: Cooper Cronk To Leave Melbourne Storm At The End Of The Season

In his 13 seasons at the club, Cronk played in four grand finals, won one, collected two Dally M Medals, four Dally M Awards for 'halfback of the year,' and a Clive Churchill Medal for best-on-ground in their grand final in 2012.

The greatest halfback in the history of the Melbourne Storm, Cooper Cronk, has announced he will leave the club at the end of the season. Cronk, 33, will move to Sydney to be closer to his fiancee and Fox Sports presenter, Tara Rushton.

"If It was a football decision I'd be staying here for a long period of time but for me to finish up at Melbourne Storm this year is a personal reason," he told reporters.

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"Tara, my fiancee, is based in Sydney and there are a few things in life that are more important than football. Like Family, getting married, and a future.

"In terms of what happens next, I sit in front of you today completely honest, I don't know," he said.

His departure will come as a huge blow for the Storm who have built one of the most successful NRL franchises in history off a spine (halfback, hooker and fullback) comprised of him, Cameron Smith at hooker and Billy Slater at fullback. In his 13 seasons at the club, Cronk played in four grand finals, won one, collected two Dally M Medals, four Dally M Awards for 'halfback of the year,' and a Clive Churchill Medal for best-on-ground in their grand final in 2012.

The Parramatta Eels are rated a strong chance of signing Cronk for next year, having freed up plenty of room in the salary cap following 2016's mass exodus of players. Such a move would likely see star half, Corey Norman shift back to his natural five-eight position. The Wests Tigers are another shot given the clouds of controversy hovering over their club at the same time both halves - Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks - are coming off contact.

Melbourne Storm coach, Craig Bellamy admitted Cronk will be very difficult to replace. "I think Cooper's downplaying it a fair bit, I think he'll be very tough to replace," Bellamy said.

"In six months that will be the tough time, knowing that he's not going to be playing here anymore."