Smith energised as Storm flags plan to keep him

CAMERON Smith says a weight has been lifted off his shoulders since retiring from representative duties as Melbourne looks to continue his career into an 18th NRL season.

With coach Craig Bellamy now locked in until 2021, Storm chief executive Dave Donaghy told NRL.com he had moved his focus to keeping Smith at the club after having opened preliminary discussions for 2019.

Smith has previously de- clared his desire to play on at least another year after announcing his retirement from both Queensland and the Kangaroos last month.

It could leave him as the last of the old firm to remain in Melbourne, given Cooper Cronk left last year, Ryan Hoffman is expected to retire this season and Billy Slater’s future is uncertain.

At 34, Smith is unsure how many more years he can play on for but said he felt re-energised since making the representative call.

“I’m really enjoying my footy at the moment,” he said. “I enjoy it all the time. But ever since the announcement of finishing up in the rep arena, it’s like a weight off the shoulders.

“It’s just like a boost of energy for myself. I’m just going to keep playing the best I can for the club and developing them for the team.

“Whatever happens in the future, happens. Hopefully I can stay fit and healthy and want to play on next year.”

Bellamy has coached Smith in 370 of his 372 first-grade games, having watched him grow from a young hooker he once told off for being too complacent in his first off-season to the world’s best player.

The pair have won four grand finals together and maintained a winning rate of around 70 per cent — making them arguably the best captain-coach combination in NRL history.

“To be involved and coach the guy who has played the most games in the NRL — that’s surreal,” Bellamy said.

“The thing I love about our older players at the club, it doesn’t matter how many records they break, they’re just so hard working.

“That’s one thing that has always impressed me about them and a big reason why we have been involved with each other for so long.”

The pair have only faced off in State of Origin, where Smith’s Queensland won seven of nine matches against Bellamy’s Blues between 2008 and 2010.

And Smith warned his coach during the negotiations his record would be similar if he ever returned to Melbourne as the Brisbane coach.