A grand final victory won't sway Cooper Cronk's decision about whether his NRL career is over or he'll play on with a Sydney club next season.
Cronk ended his Melbourne career with a fitting finale, securing his second premiership with the Storm's 34-6 win over North Queensland.
The 33-year-old, who is moving to Sydney to be with his fiancee, said he genuinely didn't know what the future held.
"Once I come back down to planet earth I need to sort through a few things," Cronk said during the post-match celebrations.
"The big one is my desire to play on but you're a long time retired.
"I've worked through what my retirement looks like and if I feel like I want to play I will make that decision but tonight doesn't have a bearing on whether I play on or retire."
He said he hoped to make the decision before the World Cup which starts later this month.
Cronk's captain and long-time friend Cameron Smith said if he was in the halfback's shoes he would find it incredibly hard to line up against the Storm.
Smith said while Cronk's departure was sad, the club couldn't have delivered a better and more fitting farewell.
"I don't know if I could go play for another club, particularly now after finishing with a grand final win, it doesn't get much better than that," Smith said.
"But if some club out there's got one million bucks it's hard to knock that back as well.
"I don't think Coops plays for that reason, he plays cause he loves the game and whatever he decides to do it's up to him and we'll respect that."
Cronk acknowledged that it would be tough emotionally to face the club he'd played with since he was 17.
"This club has given me so much more than anything I've given back to them so it would be hard but it's something I have to consider.
"That's the yin and the yang. Retirement and finish on this but you're a long time retired."
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