Off-contract Melbourne halfback Cooper Cronk isn't carrying the weight of negotiations onto the playing field.
Cronk said last week that contract decisions were playing on his mind and he wasn't happy with his performances this NRL season, but now he says the two matters are unrelated.
"I probably made the mistake of being a bit too honest in a press conference," he told SEN Breakfast.
"I said `look I'm thinking about it, it's obviously in the back of my mind' and next minute everyone is talking about this decision and that it's affecting me and things like that."
At 32, Cronk's next contract will likely be the last of his career, and a move to Sydney to be closer to girlfriend and Fox Sports presenter Tara Rushton looms as a real possibility.
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The Queensland and Australia No.7 last re-signed with Melbourne in 2012, however the fact he has hired agent George Mimis to manage his affairs for the first time in his career highlights the new personal challenges facing him this time around.
"It's really difficult," Cronk said.
"I remember a few years back I went through a similar situation and it was quite an easy breeze.
"I didn't have too many stresses or relationship sacrifices to make or decisions causing me some strain.
"This time around it's more delicate, it's about life after football."
