Melbourne halfback Cooper Cronk has implored superstar teammate Greg Inglis to stay loyal to the Storm and rugby league.

Inglis declared his future was "up in the air" after his Storm deal expired in two years' time, and did not rule out a switch of codes to rugby union like fellow high-profile defectors Sonny Bill Williams and Mark Gasnier.

But Cronk, who recently pledged his future to Melbourne and league until 2013, said Inglis was an important part of the close-knit Storm set-up both as a player and a person.

The Test halfback spoke glowingly of Inglis' loyalty, and hopes the 21-year-old follows his lead and stays with the NRL premiers beyond the end of 2010 when his current contract expires.

"I've got no doubt Greg Inglis' future is here and in rugby league," Cronk said.

"One thing about Greg is he's a loyal kid. He's very important to what we do.

"I've played with Greg for a long time. He's very respectable, he's very loyal, and he's very much loved among this bunch of blokes at the Storm.

"I'm sure he'll make the right choice for him and hopefully that's here in rugby league and particularly with the Storm because he's valuable to what we do and he's a good bloke too."

The Storm briefly spoke last week to Inglis' management about extending his deal.

But both parties have agreed to put contract talks on hold until the World Cup finishes in late November.

The Storm take on Sydney Roosters at Olympic Park on Friday night in a clash vital to their hopes of winning the minor premiership.

It is also crucial for the fourth-placed Roosters as they try to cling to a top four berth as fifth-placed Brisbane hover with intent.

The Roosters face a five-day turnaround after their surprise loss to Parramatta last Sunday, and skipper Craig Fitzgibbon was left out of the squad named during the week because of an ankle injury.

But Cronk said he expected the Roosters not to let their spot in the top four slip, pointing to how the Storm's shock defeat by the New Zealand Warriors three weeks ago had refocused their season.

"We probably got caught up in looking too far ahead a few weeks ago when we played the Warriors and they came out and gave it to us," Cronk said.

"Ever since then it's been the approach of preparing the best you can every week.

"We're a team now that firmly believes you can't just turn up to finals.

"You have to do the hard work."

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