Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy says veteran Storm halfback Cooper Cronk hasn't told him about any plans for an early retirement at the end of the NRL season.
Bellamy says he's surprised by a report that Cronk may quit after this year's World Cup, 12 months before the end of his contract to move to Sydney to be with his partner.
"I don't know anything about that and I haven't spoken to Cooper about it," Bellamy said on Tuesday.
"I'd imagine if Cooper's got something to tell me he'll come and tell me when he's ready."
Bellamy said the 33-year-old, who has been with the Storm since 2004 and played 302 games, could play beyond 2018 when his current deal expired, provided his mind was willing.
Last season the Test No.7 won the Golden Boot award as the world's best player.
"I don't think there's any limit on the time Cooper could play," Bellamy said.
"He's the ultimate professional and I wouldn't like to put an age limit on him.
"It's not only about the body; it's about the mind.
"If there is any truth about it, he's done a wonderful job for this club for a long period of time so what he would like to do, that's what he will do and it will be with the club's blessing."
If Cronk did make a premature exit Bellamy felt the Storm would be well-placed to cover the halfback role without having to bring a player to the club.
He said youngsters Brodie Croft and Scott Drinkwater as well as five-eighth Ryley Jacks were options.
"I would be thinking that we are pretty happy with the way those guys are going.
"We signed Brodie at the start of last year thinking that he probably would be Cooper's replacement if Cooper went as long as we thought he was going to go ... I don't think we would be looking outside the club."
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