GWS captain Stephen Coniglio is hopeful NRL legend and soft-cap casualty Cooper Cronk will return to the AFL club in the future.
It has been a week of intense debate over Cronk's commitments at NRL clubs Sydney Roosters and Melbourne Storm, with the four-time premiership playmaker hitting back at allegations of a conflict of interest.
The Giants would love Cronk, recruited as a leadership consultant in the aftermath of a crushing loss in the 2019 grand final then stood down amid last year's COVID-19 financial crisis, to still be on their books.
But the AFL has forced clubs to trim football-department spending, slashing the 'soft cap' from approximately $9 million to $6 million.
"Although there is no official role there, Cooper is such an amazing person that he is always there for me," Coniglio told AAP, having formed a close bond with the former halfback.
"And I know he's always there for a few other guys in the team as well.
"We're very fortunate. Even last year, throughout the year that we had, I was in constant contact with him.
"He's a person I can learn a whole lot off. Because of what he achieved - he's done some great things - but he's a great person as well.
"Cooper's resume speaks for itself. Hopefully we see him back, we don't know what will happen (in the future with the soft cap)."
Giants coach Leon Cameron also remains a huge fan of his skipper's sounding board.
Cameron admitted "if we had some extra money in the cap, I'd take him on straightaway".
"He only had three months with us and he had a winning record - we won our two preseason games, won round one then Cooper wasn't with us as much," Cameron said.
"He's a good man.
"The sort of guy that Cooper is, he'll probably offer up his services throughout the year. Because he wants to help some of the guys he built relationships with in the leadership group."
Cameron backed Coniglio to bounce back from a disappointing first season as captain, when he became the first AFL skipper in 22 years to be dropped.
"It (captaincy) can be a lonely job at times," Cameron said.
"Are they trying to be too much to everyone? You need to get your own backyard right first.
"His willingness and want to learn is great, that's all you can ask."
