IT was moments before kick-off in last year’s Anzac Day clash at AAMI Park when Melbourne Storm star Cooper Cronk bolted for the sidelines.

While his teammates took their set positions, the halfback ran over to a former digger seated in the grandstand to shake his hand before returning to the field.

When asked to revisit the wonderful gesture his week, Cronk said he had never met the man but felt it important to express the gratitude all Australians felt towards our servicemen and women.

“I don’t have any family members or friends that have served in war, but when I sing the national anthem I always spot someone in the crowd wearing a veteran’s or army uniform,” Cronk said.

“That really gets the heart pumping and you know it is sort of a bigger occasion than just a rugby league match. I saw him and I remember he was saluting and standing tall and proud and singing the anthem.

“You just feel very grateful to be playing on such a day, so it was just a reaction as I wanted to give a gesture of saying ‘thank you’.”

Cronk’s mark of respect was reflective of a club that has never taken for granted its opportunity to host an annual game on Anzac Day.

The clash with New Zealand Warriors, which started in 2009, has grown to become the biggest home game on the Storm calendar.

While Collingwood and Essendon will always be the biggest sporting clash on Anzac Day, the AAMI Park fixture holds a special place in Melbourne as it includes a strong trans-tasman element.

“We feel quite honoured to have a chance to play the game because there is so much emotion and so much respect,” Cronk said.

“There is a lot of gratefulness and thankfulness around it because while you never want to compare sport and war, you always like to think you play the game in the right spirit and celebrate what is a very significant day on the Australian calendar.

“The significance is certainly not lost on the players.”

Under coach Craig Bellamy, the teaching of the Anzac legend is passed down to the Storm players every year. The Storm mentor reinforces to his players that it was a privilege to play on the sacred day.

“To me it’s the most famous day in Australia’s history,” Bellamy said.

“They all really enjoy playing and over the seven years we’ve played on this day it has become a real part of the calendar here, it’s a big day for us.”

Cronk said education was a key part in understanding the importance of Anzac Day.

“Over the course we have had a lot of guest speakers come in and a tour of the Shrine of Remembrance,” Cronk said.

“One Anzac Day I went to the dawn service and played that evening. I think all of us at the club have a responsibility to understand it because we play on the day so we have to respect the occasion.”