NRL 2020: Cameron Smith, Harry Grant Melbourne Storm future

News that Cameron Smith could play on for an incredible 20th NRL season would ordinarily be met with delight by Wests Tigers fans enjoying the form of young gun Harry Grant.

Cameron Smith and Harry Grant.

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The 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 after ruling out a release for Tigers sensation Harry Grant.

Smith has discovered a rich vein of form since the 2020 season rebooted, prompting suggestions the NRL’s greatest-ever servant could forge on for a record 20th premiership campaign in 2021.

Smith turned 37 on Thursday but the NRL’s oldest player has shown no signs of slowing down in the three rounds since the COVID lockdown ended.

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 Friday night’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.

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Cameron Smith could play a record 20th season in the NRL next year. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

“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 the moment it’s something we haven’t discussed formally. At some stage in the next month I’m sure we’ll sit down with him and get some indication on what he wants to do.

“We’d prefer not to (issue a deadline), that’s never been something we’ve ever done before. That wouldn’t be our preference.

“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.

“There will be conversations at the right time with the right people and we’ll get some indication.”

Cameron Smith doesn’t have a deadline to decide his future. Picture: Scott Barbour/AAP

A product of Logan in southeast Queensland, Smith debuted for the Storm in 2002 and has gone on to forge 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.

Smith signed a two-year deal with the Storm in January last year for the 2019-2020 seasons and it was expected this would be his final season.

But he set up two tries and made 40 tackles in Melbourne’s gritty win against Newcastle last weekend and hasn’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.

“The hard part is getting yourself up for a full pre-season then every weekend during the season.

“You can’t turn up on a Saturday and play like he’s playing without doing the work during the week.

Cameron Smith is not slowing down. Picture: Darren Pateman/AAP

“A lot of players love the playing part, but it’s the preparation and going through the rigours of week-to-week NRL that is hard.

“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 pre-season 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 loaned rising rake Grant to Wests Tigers for the 2020 season as part of a swap deal with Paul Momirovski.

Grant, who is contracted to Melbourne for 2021-22, has proven to be a revelation as the Tigers’ starting No. 9 and has relished the extra game time.

Harry Grant has made the most of his loan move to Wests Tigers. Picture: Brendon Thorne/AAP

The Storm also boast on their books Kiwi Test gun Brandon Smith, who has long been considered to be Melbourne’s next No. 9 when Cameron Smith retires.

But Brandon Smith can also play other positions in the forward pack and the Storm are adamant Grant will return to Melbourne in 2021 even if Cameron Smith decides to extend his career.

“Harry will be coming back, one hundred per cent,” Ponissi said.

“We had that discussion with him and his manager.

“He was ready to play NRL this year as he has proven that. We think we will be the benefactors from it as well.

“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.

“We’re quite excited to get him back next year.”