Cooper Cronk set to play on in Sydney

Cooper Cronk has decided to continue his NRL career -- if the right club comes in for the Melbourne Storm champion.

Cronk, 33, ended his career in the Victorian capital with a premiership earlier this month.

He announced in April that he would move back to Sydney to be with fiancee Tara Rushton but had not decided, until now, if he would play on.

"Cooper has advised me today that should a suitable opportunity be available he will consider continuing his career in Sydney," Cronk's manager George Mimis said.

"I will now undertake some discussions to determine the feasibility of that for him."

The Sydney Roosters are believed to be leading the race for the halfback, which may force NSW State of Origin halfback Mitchell Pearce out of the club.

Seven reporter Chris Garry has reported that Jake Friend is the most likely candidate to lose his spot in the team should Cronk end up in Bondi.

Cronk may yet play on beyond 2018, postponing his shift into the NRL media even longer after he signed a multi-year deal with Fox Sports, where fiancee Rushton works, earlier this year.

"Sometimes there is more to life than football," Cronk said in April.

"I'm jealous of the guys who have their families here, who have their loved ones and have football in the same city.

"Unfortunately -- or fortunately, whichever side you sit on -- it's time for me to try and prioritise my time and my future and that's why I've made the announcement."

Cronk said he would have played on in Melbourne for years to come had he not wanted to make the permanent move to Sydney.

He and Rushton began their relationship in the second half of his NRL career, by which time she had already established herself as a media star.

"She loves Melbourne but the funny thing is, she's worked really hard to get where she is," Cronk said.

"And we've had a thousand discussions about the possibilities of things but I'm not about to ask her or force her to give up what she's worked so hard for.

"I think I'm in a position to sacrifice what I've done and I'd be more than willing to sacrifice anything that I've done for our relationship going forward into the future."

Cronk will take the lead playmaking role for the Kangaroos at the Rugby League World Cup beginning later this month.

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He won four grand finals at the Storm -- 2007, 2009, 2012 and 2017 -- as one of the historic 'Big Three' with Cameron Smith and Billy Slater.

The halfback won Dally M Medals in 2013 and 2016, the Clive Churchill Medal in 2012 and the 2016 Golden Boot as the best player in the world.