Clive Churchill medal

The 33-year-old has opted against taking up the final year of his contract, meaning 2017 will be his last season playing for Melbourne.

Cronk has played 306 games for the Storm across 15 seasons, winning the Clive Churchill Medal in 2012 and the Dally M Medal in 2013 and 2016, while he has also played 32 Tests for Australia and 19 State of Origin games for Queensland.

"Melbourne Storm has been everything to me since moving down here from Brisbane as a kid back in 2003," Cronk said.

With Billy Slater set to return from injury to reclaim the fullback role, Munster will be given first crack at the No.6 jersey vacated by Blake Green who signed with Manly.

While his experience as playmaker is limited to junior football, the grand finalists believe the 22-year-old will be a natural.

"He's a very good athlete but he's an out-and-out footballer and that's why we're very confident he's going to make the transition," Storm football manager Frank Ponissi said.