Cam can reach the 400 club

CAMERON Smith has revealed plans to extend his career and sign another deal at Melbourne in a move that would see the Maroons champion become the first player to play 400 NRL games.

Smith admitted he would be truly humbled on Saturday night when he ran on to AAMI Park as the most-capped player in the code’s 109-year history in Australia, surpassing Darren Lockyer with his 356th NRL game.

At a time when he is watching Origin contemporaries like Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk confront the prospect of retirement, Kangaroos and Queensland skipper Smith is facing another ‘‘R’’ word – Renewal.

Smith will be 35 when his current Storm deal expires next year. He had initially planned to walk away at the end of next season but he entered this year’s finals feeling so fresh, mentally and physically, that he was itching for an 18th campaign in 2019.

“To be honest, I haven’t felt so good physically and mentally in my whole career,” said Smith, who will look to dismantle the Eels in Saturday’s qualifying final.

‘‘I believe I can keep going. “I know there is always the risk of going one year too long, but at this stage, I wouldn’t rule out signing another deal.”