Cameron Smith seeks advice from ex-teammates on retirement

Melbourne Storm captain Cameron Smith is likely to hang up the boots after Sunday’s premiership decider against Penrith in what will be his 430th NRL appearance.

Storm legend Cameron Smith has sought advice from former teammates about retiring ahead of what shapes as his NRL grand final swansong.

Smith, 37, is likely to hang up the boots after Sunday’s premiership decider against Penrith at ANZ Stadium in what will be his 430th NRL appearance.

The Melbourne captain will suit up for his eighth grand final and remains without a contract for 2021, insisting he is yet to decide if he will play on.

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Cameron Smith has addressed retirement rumours.

But on Thursday Smith gave the strongest indication yet that is weighing up walking away from the game.

At his final pre-match press conference, Smith revealed he had spoken to ex-teammates about retiring, but insisted he had not felt the urge to give the game away.

“Not really, which is why it makes the decision really hard,” Smith said when asked if “Father Time” had caught up with him.

“I’ve spoken to a few of my ex-teammates who are now retired. They’ve told me there was one day they woke up and in their mind they didn’t want to do it anymore.

“That was the reason they knew it was time to finish up. I haven’t had that feeling yet.

“There’s lots of things to consider outside of how I feel and whether I think I could play on.

“After this game is finished I will do some thinking and make a decision.”

Smith has consistently maintained he is yet to make a call on his future, however Melbourne figures privately believe he will retire.

The Kangaroos and Queensland legend has appeared intensely focussed in recent weeks as the opportunity to farewell with a premiership became a distinct possibility.

Smith had three weeks off mid-season after suffering a shoulder injury, a ploy former Storm halfback Cooper Cronk believes was designed to prepare the Melbourne No. 9 for a premiership assault.

After 19 seasons in the NRL, Smith looks as motivated as ever to win the 2020 title and coach Craig Bellamy said little had changed in his captain’s approach.

“I wouldn’t expect anything else,” Bellamy said.

“I’ve been around him for 18 years. I don’t know exactly what makes him tick, but at the end of the day I know the competitor that is in him and the great care he has for his teammates and the club in general.

“He is willing to take a little bit of the spotlight. He has always been a great team man. That hasn’t changed.

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“No one in the game has done what he’s done. You can have your opinion on anything about his career or him, but no one has done what he has done in our game.

“For me, greatness is the quality of your performance and how long has he done it for. No one has done it like he has and it might be a little while before someone does.”

Bellamy said he was considering recalling prop Tui Kamikamica, who has recovered from an ankle injury, to form a four-forward bench at the expense of utility Nicho Hynes.