Life after Cooper Cronk has been "a little bit different" at Melbourne but Cameron Smith believes Brodie Croft has been the first to step up and show he can fill Melbourne's vacant No.7 jersey.
Storm skipper Smith claimed Croft was ahead of Ryley Jacks and Jahrome Hughes in the three-way race for the halfback role Cronk held at Melbourne for 14 NRL seasons before linking with Sydney Roosters this year.
Smith admitted he was still getting used to 323-game veteran Cronk not being around at Melbourne after returning from his post-Rugby League World Cup break a fortnight ago.
"It has been a little bit different without him (Cronk) but I have only been back two weeks," Smith said.
"I am used to having that familiar face of Cooper Cronk for the last 14 years, he's not there now so we are doing our best to move on."
And Smith said Croft had hit the ground running in Cronk's absence, tipping him to play halfback in Melbourne's March 10 NRL season opener against the Bulldogs in Perth.
Croft, 20, was kept in cotton wool for Melbourne's opening trial - a 26-22 loss to Newcastle last weekend.
But Smith believed Storm fans would see plenty of Croft this season in Cronk's absence, starting with Friday's World Club Challenge clash with English champions Leeds.
"Brodie Croft sat out against Newcastle but we have got a World Club Challenge coming up and that's important so I am thinking he will get the nod for that match," he said.
"At the moment I would say Brodie is ahead just but if things weren't to work out that way the others are ready to go."
Croft has the inside running after playing four NRL games last year.
Jacks, 25, played 12 games - mainly at five-eighth - last season after making his debut in the 2017 NRL season opener despite not being in the Storm's original 25-man squad.
Hughes, 23, arrived at the Storm last year and played four games after stints at Gold Coast Titans and North Queensland.
Smith tipped Jacks and Hughes to keep Croft honest in the race to the halfback spot.
"The other two boys are training quite well," he said.
"Ryley played a bit last year so we know Ryley is willing and able to take that position if needed.
"And Jahrome has spent a bit of time in North Queensland under JT (Johnathan Thurston) ... so he's a good, young player."
