Arizona trip a lift for Storm star Cooper Cronk Des Hasler says newly-returned Ben Barba won't play Storm. USA OK: Storm halfback Cooper Cronk in action against the Cowboys on Saturday night. STORM coach Craig Bellamy has revealed Cooper Cronk's left-field adventure to Arizona with the Brisbane Lions AFL team last November has produced the playmaker's best early-season form. Against the Cowboys on Saturday, Cronk scored two tries, set up another two and made two try-saving plays. The results of a two-week altitude training trip to Arizona could be the catalyst for NRL players to travel there each off-season - it has become an annual pilgrimage for some AFL clubs. It looks like it has (worked). He's been tremendous in the World Club Challenge and these two games," Bellamy said. While Cameron (Smith) and Billy (Slater) were lying in the sun putting some extra weight on around their stomach, Cooper was still training. He spent some time in Arizona with the Brisbane Lions doing some altitude training. If anyone at the Cowboys knew how to contain the brilliance of Cronk, surely it would be their Storm recruit Rory Kostjasyn. Nope, not a chance. "Cooper is the most dedicated person I have ever seen," he said. He will never be happy or satisfied with where he's at. Slater has been charged for a hit that knocked out North Queensland winger Antonio Winterstein. However, the grade one dangerous contact charge means Slater will be free to play against Canterbury in Thursday night's grand final rematch at AAMI Park if he pleads guilty. Slater was not penalised or placed on report. Storm player Siosaia Vave was also given a grade one dangerous contact charge for a tackle on Cowboys prop Matt Scott and will miss one week because of carryover points. Penrith star Lachlan Coote will miss the rest of the NRL season after being scheduled for surgery on a pectoral injury suffered in thei loss to Wests Tigers last Sunday.