Cooper Cronk could run out for his final NRL game on Saturday night but it might also mark the last time Cameron Smith takes the field.
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy on Friday revealed the Storm skipper was undecided on his future beyond this year and might bow out after their preliminary final against the Sydney Roosters.
Smith is contracted for next season but could elect to hang up his boots immediately if the Storm are knocked out by the Roosters.
Smith holds the record for most games played and will make his 411th appearance at the SCG. Bellamy said he expected to him to make a decision in consultation with his family in coming weeks.
“He’ll see what he thinks is best, have a chat to the club,” Bellamy said.
“Then we’ll go from there. Whichever way he wants to go, I’ll support him 100 per cent.”
Bellamy also hit back at Smith’s constant critics who had labelled him a “protected species” and claimed he had too much influence over the game’s whistleblowers.
The claims against Smith are not supported by the fact he is the third-most penalised hooker and 12th-most penalised player in the competition this year having been pinged 18 times.
“I don’t adhere to that theory at all,” Bellamy said.
“It seems we’ll put him up there and knock him down. It seems to be the Aussie way – a little bit of the tall poppy (syndrome).
“Give me Cameron Smith any time. In any team you’re involved with, you’d want Cameron Smith every day of the week.”
The match will be a somewhat bittersweet occasion for both clubs with Cronk, who has been a premiership winner with both sides, set to hang up his boots at the end of the season.
Bellamy spoke glowingly of Cronk, saying the five-time grand final winner and eight-time grand finalist deserved every accolade that came his way.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson said his club had taken the emotion out of the occasion and would celebrate his career once the season was done.
“He’s training tough; he’s got a black eye,” Robinson said.
“You’re focused on performance – we’ve got a game to play.
“That’s an important thing (his retirement) in a couple of weeks but, at the moment, he’s halfback, playing in a prelim final, so let’s go.”
The Roosters were struck a big blow on game eve with co-captain Jake Friend ruled out in his attempted return from a fractured forearm.
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