Cameron Smith confirms two-year contract extension with Melbourne Storm

After ending months of uncertainty surrounding his NRL future, Cameron Smith has spoken about his protracted five-month contract negotiation with Melbourne Storm.

Cameron Smith will continue his NRL career with the Storm. Picture: Getty Images

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Cameron Smith could hand over the Melbourne Storm captaincy before the end of 2020.

But Smith, 35, who signed a new two-year contract this week, hasn’t spoken to coach Craig Bellamy about anything beyond getting back on the field, striving towards improvement, consistency and, ultimately, another NRL premiership.

Smith has endorsed Dale Finucane, Jesse Bromwich and Will Chambers as his potential captaincy successors.

Cameron Munster, who signed a five-year extension last month, has also signalled his desire to be a leader.

“I haven’t spoken to Craig about it yet, so he’s probably thinking he’s going to roll me out as skipper again, but we’ve got a great leadership group in place,” Smith said.

“Those three guys (Finucane, Bromwich and Chambers) have been around the club a long time, they know how we operate, what’s expected of leaders in our club.”

Cameron Smith will continue his NRL career with the Storm. Picture: Getty Images

The 384-game champion is in line to become the NRL’s first 400-game player, but Smith said the milestone had not swayed him to play on.

After finishing last season strongly, having played every game bar one he missed through suspension, Smith had every intention to play again.

But he “surprised” Storm chiefs in November when he posed the question about 2020.

“I just think they naturally thought it was going to be a year-by-year prospect,” he said.

“My thought process was just asking the question really.

“If it was a dead set ‘No’ from the club … I would have been happy to go ahead with the 12 months.”

Smith, who holds records for most premiership games, wins, games as captain and points by a forward, said retiring from representative football last year had “absolutely” given him the option of playing for as long as possible.

“There’s no reason for me not to play two years,” he said.

“I still enjoy playing the game. I still love competing out on the field.”

Smith’s retention is a major boost for Storm after the retirements of Billy Slater and Ryan Hoffman, and Tim Glasby’s move to Newcastle.

Cameron Smith is in line to become the NRL’s first 400-game player.

With five-eighth Munster in the mix to return to fullback, Smith could again be handed the keys to a new-look halves combination. He dabbled as first and second receiver last year as Storm experimented after Cooper Cronk left.

“It’s easy to get out of bed,” Smith said.

“I love playing the game, I love the club, I love my teammates, (and) it’s pretty easy to come to work every day. You probably feel a little bit odd man out really (stepping into a locker-room without Slater and Hoffman) … it gives me flashbacks of when I first started.

“I don’t feel like a 35-year-old veteran when I’m walking around with these 21-year-olds. I feel young and I get a spring in the step, they exude enthusiasm back to you and energy, so as long as they keep doing that, I’ll be happy.”

Originally published as Cameron Smith confirms two-year contract extension with Melbourne Storm