Cooper Cronk barely acknowledges Cameron Smith after Roosters loss to Storm

The Storm’s one-point win over the Roosters was truly an indication the NRL premiers shouldn’t be counted for a tilt at this year’s premiership.

But there was an even more telling moment after the game.

Roosters halfback Cooper Cronk, who was playing his former teammates at the Storm for the first time since leaving the club at the end of last season, embraced most of his ex-teammates as both sides lined up for their obligatory handshakes.

One by one, Cronk hugged and spoke to Storm players even catching up with former mentor Craig Bellamy and Billy Slater once the crowd filtered out of the ground.

But Cronk’s reaction to former Storm and Origin teammate Cameron Smith raised a few eyebrows.

As both players approached each other, the Roosters playmaker barely stopped for Smith as the Maroons legend came in for a hug.

Cronk didn’t reciprocate and kept moving, casually sticking his hand out for a less than convincing handshake.

The moment stood out even more because Cronk had just hugged several of his former teammates en route to approaching Smith.

Fans on social media also noticed the icy exchange, adding credence to the fact that Smith and Cronk aren’t on good terms.

Speculation has been mounting about a rift between the pair, with reports suggesting things have been rocky between the two for some time.

Cameron Smith was a noticeable no show at Cronk’s wedding  on Sydney’s northern beaches just before Christmas last year.

The official line from the Storm was that Smith had already planned a family holiday during that time.

There are also reports the Storm skipper wasn’t happy with Cronk’s decision to leave the club.

Whatever the reason, it’s clear that these two aren’t too crash hot on each other anymore.

Cronk and Smith were synonymous with the Storm’s success for over a decade, with both players featuring heavily in the club’s rise.

The two also played a leading hand in the Maroons’ dominance at Origin level, leading Queensland to numerous state titles.