MELBOURNE Storm back-rower Michael Crocker could miss today's National Rugby League clash against the Bulldogs at Olympic Park after he completed only part of last night's final training session.

Storm high-performance unit manager Mary Toomey said Crocker, who had a calf injury flare up during the week, completed about 80% of yesterday's training — the tough back-rower leaving the session as a precaution — and would be assessed today.

Crocker is the only Melbourne player in doubt, with the Storm's list in much better shape than the Bulldogs unit that arrived in Melbourne yesterday, with five-eighth Daniel Holdsworth being the fifth player this week to be ruled out of the team with injury.

Holdsworth has a quadricep strain and stayed in Sydney with teammates Sonny Bill Williams (knee), winger Matt Utai (ribs), and forwards Jarrad Hickey (hamstring) and Chris Armit (knee).

He will be replaced by former Penrith and South Sydney half-back Joe Williams his first start with the club.

Williams only joined the club a few weeks ago after gaining a mid-season release from the Panthers.

Holdsworth's injury means the Bulldogs will be without 11 first-team regulars for what shapes as a tough ask against the defending premier.

"It's just one of those things, that's football," Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes said yesterday.

"We've got nothing to lose, either. There's not too many people tipping that we're going to play well or win the game, so we've got nothing to lose.

"We'll just go out there and do our absolute best and we'll see what happens.

"I hope they (the replacements) bring a lot of enthusiasm.

"They haven't played a lot of first-grade and the other guys will lead them around, so we'll go OK."

Melbourne officials have admitted Crocker's decision to depart a year ahead of schedule to take up a three-year deal with Super League club Hull may have an unexpected silver lining.

The money freed up by Crocker's departure may lead to not only New Zealand back-rower Jeremy Smith receiving a revised offer, but give the club a better chance of keeping highly rated youngsters Aiden Tolman and Sika Manu — and it even may help the club retain stars Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk, Ryan Hoffman and Anthony Quinn.

"It's bitter-sweet," Storm football manager Frank Ponissi admitted yesterday.

Jeremy Smith, Tolman and Manu are all out of contract at the end of this season, and the club would have faced losing all three had it not been for Crocker's British offer.

Now, the Storm will be in a position to make Smith an offer next week and may retain all three.

"(Before Crocker's decision), it would have been impossible for us to keep Jeremy, Aiden and Sika," Ponissi said. "Now there's a chance we can keep all three."

Cam Smith, Hoffman, Cronk and Quinn are all also out of contract at the end of next season and will all be highly sought-after.

Ponissi said he hoped to commence formal negotiations with all four after this year's state-of-origin series, with a view to wrapping at least some of them up in Melbourne colours before the end of this season.

■NRL chief executive David Gallop has defended the system that has allowed Luke Lewis to renege on a verbal agreement to sign with Souths — even maintaining his decision to re-sign with Penrith proved it worked.

"It's a very good principle that a player's club is given an opportunity to re-sign their player," Gallop said.

"Luke Lewis is a local junior, and many years were invested in him by the Panthers … it's a new rule and this week highlights its effectiveness."

The system allows clubs to have last right to cut a deal up until after round 13, meaning a number of players may potentially be up for grabs until then, even though they have agreed to play elsewhere.

Players can sign a watertight deal if given a clearance by their incumbent clubs.

With GLENN JACKSON