Record-breaking Cam to play on next season
CAMERON Smith insists a Storm premiership will not herald his retirement, with the Queensland champion to sign one final contract in his quest to become the first player to reach 400 NRL games.
Smith enters tomorrow night’s finals opener against Souths without a contract for 2019, triggering fears the Storm skipper could follow teammate Billy Slater into retirement.
Renowned as the NRL’s Mr Unbreakable, Smith has battled foot and back problems this season, injuries that suggest Father Time is creeping up on the 35-year-old.
Leading the Storm to backto-back titles could be viewed as the perfect platform for Smith’s exit, but the 381-game stalwart has outlined his plan to soldier on for a remarkable 18th season of first grade.
“At the moment, I would like to play on,” said Smith, who shocked the code in May with his sudden retirement from representative football.
“I still feel I am contributing to the side, I still feel well enough mentally and physically to go on next year.
“When you think about retirement, you are a long-time retired and you don’t want to live the next part of your life regretting or wishing that you should have played on.”
SOUTHS star Sam Burgess says he will have no hesitation of walking away from a new long-term deal if he feels like his best football has passed.
Burgess has re-signed until the end of 2023, adding four more years to his contract.
The deal is worth more than $1 million a season, with Burgess turning 35 in the year the contract expires.