SMITH GETS THE CALL
Future’s in his own hands
MELBOURNE Storm believe captain Cameron Smith could play a record 20th season in the NRL next year but will not slap a deadline on the Queensland legend to decide his future.
Smith has discovered a rich vein of form since the 2020 season reboot, prompting suggestions he could forge on for a record 20th premiership campaign in 2021.
Despite turning 37 yesterday, the NRL’s oldest player has shown no signs of slowing down in the three rounds since the end of the COVID-19 lockdown.
With a record 416 NRL appearances under his belt, Smith is on track to eclipse 430 games this year and push beyond 450 if he decides to play on in 2021.
On the eve of tonight’s crunch game against Penrith, Storm football director Frank Ponissi said the club would not issue Smith a deadline to decide his future, but admitted they had to plan for 2021.
“He hasn’t given an indication and he is genuine about that – I don’t think he’s hiding anything,” Ponissi said.
“Ideally he’d really like to wait until the end of the year. In terms of list management and sorting out his own future, you’d probably want to make a decision sooner rather than later.
“At some stage in the next month I’m sure we’ll sit down with him ... we’d prefer not to (issue a deadline) – that’s never been something we’ve ever done before.
“Given his stature in the game he has every right to make a decision. The tricky part with list management is managing that and the salary cap. It’s a real jigsaw.”
After debuting for the Storm in 2002, Logan product Smith has forged one of rugby league’s most incredible careers.
He made 56 Test appearances for the Kangaroos and played a record 42 State of Origin games for Queensland before retiring from representative football in 2017.
It was expected this would be Smith’s final season after he signed a two-year deal with the Storm in January last year for the 2019 and 2020 seasons, but the hooker set up two tries and made 40 tackles in the Storm’s gritty win against Newcastle last weekend and didn’t looked out of place in the revamped NRL.
“He is not slowing down and he showed that last year too – we know what he can do on the field each weekend,” Ponissi said.
“In terms of football and physical-wise, I’d have no doubt he could go again (in 2021), but it’s about getting up for another preseason and another full season every week at this stage of his life.
“That’s the decision he’s going to have to make.”
The Storm’s commitment to Smith comes despite the likely return next season of rising rake Harry Grant from Wests Tigers.
Having gone to the Tigers for the 2020 season as part of a swap deal with Paul Momirovski, Grant has proven to be a revelation as the Tigers’ starting No.9.
The Storm also boast Kiwi Test gun Brandon Smith – long considered to be Melbourne’s next No. 9 when Smith retires – but he can play other positions in the forward pack and the Storm are adamant Grant will return to Melbourne in 2021 even if Smith decides to extend his career.
“Harry will be coming back, 100 per cent ... him getting 12 months of NRL experience under a really good coach (Michael Maguire) will see him come back as a much better player for us,” Ponissi said.
“We’re quite excited to get him back next year.”