Forget Cooper, this is for club

MELBOURNE Storm superstar Billy Slater says giving Cooper Cronk the “ultimate send-off” with a premiership is not a motivating factor for Sunday’s grand final at ANZ Stadium.

Slater, 34, said the decider was about “every individual” doing their job.

“As important as it is to send him out on a good note, this is much more than Cooper Cronk, this is about the Melbourne Storm,” he said.

“I won’t be doing anything different this week in my preparation knowing that it’s Cooper’s last game.

“I’m sure Cooper would say himself that it’s not about him.

“The result will take care of itself and if we perform well Cooper will get the send off that he deserves at Melbourne Storm.”

Cronk, 34, remains undecided on his future but yesterday revealed he had started packing boxes for the impending move to Sydney.

Slater said the possibility of squaring off against Cronk would be “weird”.

The premiership stars have played on the same team since their junior days in Brisbane.

“It would be really weird playing against Cooper and seeing him in a different coloured jersey, but at the same time that’s Cooper’s decision,” Slater said.

“He’s earned the right to do whatever he wants and take as long as he needs to.”

Storm coach Craig Bellamy is luxuriously placed with only a handful of players unavailable for the final.

The entire squad trained lightly yesterday at Gosch’s Paddock before about 1000 fans.

Young Tonumaipea, Nate Myles, Mark Nicholls and Joe Stimson look set to be named