As rival NRL clubs circle Cooper Cronk, Melbourne skipper Cameron Smith is hoping loyalty will keep the star halfback at the Storm for life.

Off-contract Cronk is the target of South Sydney and Gold Coast Titans for 2013.

The Storm have also weighed in with a four-year offer believed to be in excess of $2.2 million, with the club keen to retain the in-demand Queenslander for the rest of his career.

Cronk’s loyalty to the club which gave him his break was on show in 2008 when he became the first big-name Storm player to pledge his long-term future when signing his current deal.

At the time, he followed coach Craig Bellamy in putting pen to paper.

Only after Cronk’s signature did Smith and Billy Slater sign new deals, while Greg Inglis eventually left.

Smith, who has played alongside Cronk at the Storm for a decade, said the halfback was a valuable part of the club’s fabric.

“It’d be a sad day if he left this club,” Smith said.

“I’d love for him to stay at this club, and we’ve been together a long time, since we were 18-years-old.

“But at the end of the day it’s Cooper’s decision.

“He’s been around long enough to know what’s right for him. I know the club’s position is we’d love him to stay.

“Ultimately what he believes is best for him, he’ll do.”

Souths have salary cap room to sign Cronk after Dave Taylor’s decision to quit the club for Gold Coast from 2013.

The Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire also knows Cronk’s ability from his stint as an assistant at the Storm.

But despite their cash woes, the Titans are widely believed the in the box-seat to sign the Queensland star.

Any speculation hasn’t affected Cronk’s on-field output – further earning his teammates’ admiration.

He has starred in the Storm’s three wins to open the season and is on track to secure the vacant Queensland State of Origin halfback spot with Johnathan Thurston’s looming move to five-eighth.

Cronk has kept any discussion of his contract situation away from teammates, according to Smith.

“He’s quite a private guy, Cooper. His off-field affairs – he keeps that to himself. But he’s a very professional guy and he’ll do what’s right for him,” Smith said.

“Hopefully that decision is to stay with Melbourne Storm.

“My job is to play football and captain this team the best I can.

“Hopefully part of my job is to captain Cooper Cronk next year.”