Martin Devlin: The bitter divorce of Smith and Cronk

So now we all know the real reason Cooper Cronk left Melbourne to go and play for the Roosters. The PR schmooze so carefully spoon fed to an eager, gaping media and public last year was that he'd fallen in love with a beautiful TV presenter and followed his heart to be with her in Sydney.

Now that might be true and if it is I'm genuinely happy for him. But after watching the animosity so evident between Cronk and his one-time best buddy Cameron Smith following Sunday's Grand Final it's obvious that the Smith-Cronk-Slater Three Musketeers show didn't just fall apart, it exploded. And that, in fact, is why he left.

Now I have no intention at all in speculating or investigating or uncovering exactly why these guys can no longer even look each other in the eye let alone share a post-match handshake, but whatever happened it was serious enough to mean it may never be repaired.

For a guy who could so cleverly and deliberately lie all week about his injured shoulder, the real Cooper couldn't even begin to hide his true feelings towards Smith. After individually hugging every other Storm player he walked straight past is fellow immortal without a second glance.

So much for this beloved band of brothers we were constantly force-fed. The truth is like so many relationships sadly do, the Storm Spine, the Queensland connection of Smith-Slater-Cronk once so tight so indestructible, it all ended in bitter divorce.

For everything they may've achieved as team-mates, for every experience and emotional
triumph shared, quite clearly none of it is strong enough to over-ride or repair whatever
it was that's caused this conflict.

And seeing as Cameron Smith was so quick to tell the fans in Sydney how they should
And shouldn't behave, I'm sure he won't mind a little helpful advice right back.

Heh Cam, sort it out mate. You and Cooper need to sit down and find some common ground.

Put your selfish squabbles aside if not for yourselves for all your old team-mates.

Because if you don't, you two are going to pollute every future Storm and Queensland reunion for everyone else.

This isn't just about you it's about the damage and division you're already causing and how it'll effect every other person you shared those successes with.

Because right now you can just imagine how those occasions are gonna be.

As much fun as a family Christmas where the relatives were invited for a few days and end up staying the next fortnight.