Cameron Smith in the clear as Storm sort out salary cap issues

Melbourne have finally overcome salary cap issues they have battled for some time that would have seen skipper Cameron Smith remarkably sidelined for the season-opening clash with Brisbane.

Cameron Smith is in the clear as Round 1 approaches. Picture: Getty Images

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Storm skipper Cameron Smith will be given the green light by the NRL to start the premiership after Melbourne finally eased their salary cap pressures by offloading Sam Kasiano to the English Super League.

Kasiano agreed to terms on a three-year deal overnight with French club Catalans Dragons - ensuring Melbourne’s greatest player Smith will be formally cleared to play in the season-opener against the Broncos this Thursday night.

The Storm have been battling salary cap issues for some time and were in danger of heading into the round one clash with Brisbane having exceeded the code’s payment ceiling.

That scenario would have seen Smith remarkably sidelined for the Broncos clash because he was the final player in Melbourne’s full-time squad to have his contract registered by the NRL in January.

Cameron Smith is in the clear as Round 1 approaches. Picture: Getty Images

It is understood Melbourne were over the cap by around $200,000, but Smith can breathe a sigh of relief after the Storm freed up funds by releasing front-row giant Kasiano to Catalans.

The 28-year-old had been linked with St George Illawarra as a temporary replacement for troubled forward Jack de Belin, but Kasiano will link with the French version of the Dragons instead.

NRL authorities are likely to rubber-stamp Smith’s availability as early as today with the former Queensland Origin captain to suit up for his 385th first-grade game against the Broncos at AAMI Park.

Smith told The Courier-Mail at Thursday’s NRL season launch he initially feared he could be forced to sit out the opening round until Melbourne sorted out their cap issues.

“I spoke to our CEO (Storm’s Dave Donaghy) and he has all but guaranteed me that I will be right to go,” Smith said.

“When I saw the reports (about Smith missing the Broncos clash), I was getting a bit nervous.”

Sam Kasiano has signed a three-year deal with Catalans Dragons. Picture: AAP

The Broncos blockbuster will see Smith inch closer to becoming the first player in the code’s 111-year history to play 400 top-grade games.

“I really haven’t thought about the 400-game mark,” he said.

“Even going past ‘Locky’ (355-game Broncos legend Darren Lockyer) at 356, it’s not something I sat around and thought about.

“It’s just happened. As a kid, I wanted to be a football player and had dreams to captain Queensland and Australia and was lucky enough to do those things.

Cameron Smith smiles as representatives from all clubs gather at Bondi Icebergs for the NRL season launch. Picture: Toby Zerna

“To be the game’s record holder and possibly reach 400, it’s pretty cool, I won’t deny that, but I don’t sit there thinking about it.

“Touch wood I get there, but I just enjoy coming to training, training hard and doing the best I can for the team. And when the game is finished, I tick another game off.”

Kasiano played 14 games for the Storm last season but was unable to secure a place in Melbourne’s grand-final loss to the Roosters.