Storm block out emotion in NRL GF build-up

Billy Slater may join Cooper Cronk in playing his final game for Melbourne in Sunday's NRL grand final against North Queensland.

Melbourne's Cooper Cronk (l) and Billy Slater

Melbourne duo Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater have played together in the NRL since 2004. (AAP)

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy insists the Storm have blocked out any emotion surrounding the possibility of Billy Slater joining Cooper Cronk in playing his final game for the NRL club.

Cronk will farewell the Storm and move to Sydney after Sunday's NRL grand final against North Queensland but is yet to announce whether he intends to continue his career elsewhere.

Bellamy said, despite Cronk's protests, the club gave the veteran halfback a proper send off he deserved in his final home game last week.

But he wouldn't be using it as motivation against the Cowboys.

"He said that last week but we ignored him," Bellamy said at Thursday's traditional grand final captains and coaches press conference.

"We haven't made a point of it this week. He obviously hasn't made a point of it and that's about where it sits."

Slater could also be making his final appearance in the NRL as speculation mounts about his decision to hang up the boots.

However, Bellamy said uncertainty around Slater's hasn't been a driving factor this week.

"Obviously we don't know what Billy's doing," he said.

"We certainly haven't put any pressure on him, and we don't want to put any pressure on him.

"It's up to him what he does, to make that decision on his own time.

"That's where that is."

Along with captain Cameron Smith, the quartet have been at the core of Melbourne's success over the past decade, including six deciders.

But Bellamy denied 2017 would be their most emotional.

"We knew a fair while ago that Cooper was going to finish this year, obviously we didn't know what week it was going to be," he said.

"Luckily for us it's the last week of the year so I think there was a bit of emotion last week about the Cooper factor playing his last game at home for the Storm.

"This week we know it's going to be his last game for the Storm.

"I think the emotional thing was more last week than this week.

"This week it's about everyone.

"It's not too often players get a chance to play in a grand final, so it's about our whole team, about our whole club.

"It's about where that emotional factor is."


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Source: AAP



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