Melbourne five-eighth Blake Green hopes halves partner Cooper Cronk resists the lure of Sydney to remain in the Victorian capital beyond this coming season.
Cronk is off-contract at the end of the NRL season and will be one of the most sought-after signatures.
South Sydney and St George Illawarra have reportedly already made enquiries about the Queensland and Australian playmaker's future while he has already begun contract negotiations with the Storm.
Cronk is considering a move to Sydney to be closer to girlfriend and television personality Tara Rushton and may command a million dollar-plus deal on the open market.
Green says it would be a critical blow for the club to lose Cronk but was remaining hopeful he'll recommit to the Storm.
"He's the Australian halfback, I'd love for him to stay," Green said.
"It's all up to Cooper and he's got the runs on the board and he deserves the right to make a decision whenever's he's ready."
Green flourished under Cronk's tutelage in his first season with the Storm after the 29-year-old spent the first eight years of his career wandering the rugby league wilderness.
He was pegged as a journeyman after stints at Parramatta, Cronulla, Canterbury and English Super League clubs Hull KR and Wigan but has found a home in Melbourne and helped the Storm to within one game of last year's grand final.
Green said he had a deep personal interest in seeing Cronk stay in Melbourne.
"He's been really good for me," Green said.
"When I've come to this club he's guided me in the right direction, he's been there if I needed advice. He hasn't controlled my game, if anything I've been allowed to flourish under him.
"This pre-season was pretty exciting not having any rep games (at the end of last year), we were able to train a lot more together than we did in previous years."
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