Melbourne skipper Cameron Smith could retire at the end of the 2018 season

IT seems as though Cameron Smith’s incredible career will stretch on forever, but the greatest player in the game has revealed he’s considering a shock retirement.

Cameron Smith (centre) of the Storm in action during the NRL Johnathan Thurston and Cameron Smith Testimonial match between the Melbourne Storm and the North Queensland Cowboys played at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Friday, February 23, 2018. (AAP Image/Darren England) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

CAMERON Smith is confronting his footballing mortality, with the NRL’s most-capped player revealing he is dreading the thought of playing one season too many.

The Queensland and Australia skipper admitted he is emotionally wrestling with the prospect of retiring this season — or playing on next year in the quest to reach 400 NRL games.

Smith, who turns 35 in June, is off-contract at season’s end. When he inked a four-year extension with the Storm in 2014, it was expected to be his final deal, but his Dally M Medal victory last season was emphatic evidence Smith can soldier on in 2019.

Storm hierarchy are keen to stagger the exits of Smith and fellow champion Billy Slater, who is leaning towards retiring this season, but the Maroons ace is wary of hanging on too long.

Asked if he could retire this year, Smith said: “Possibly. I don’t know.

Smith was on hand to help launch the season.

“I have always thought I never wanted to stay too long.

“I don’t want to go one season too long and not play well and have everyone say ‘You should have got out’.

“I’d rather finish while I’m still playing strong.

“Family is a bigger part of my life than what rugby league is now, so that will be a huge part in my decision on whether I play next year.

“In my mind, I am not clear on whether I will play on.”

Smith is certain of one thing — he will not sign with a rival club. That rules out any prospect of a return home to Queensland for a career swan song at the Broncos.

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There will also be no repeat of the contractual innuendo that buffeted former teammate Cooper Cronk last year. The Maroons halfback endured months of speculation about his future before eventually signing with the Roosters.

“I tend not to try and have my career played out in the media,” he said. “It’s a different situation to Cooper because he mentioned early that he was leaving the Storm. I don’t have any plans to do that.

“If I wasn’t to play for the Storm next year, that would mean my retirement.

“There won’t be as much speculation around my future as there was with Cooper’s. But questions will naturally come up about what I’m doing next year, whether I’ll be playing on or signing again with the Storm.

Could Smith hand them up at the end of the year.

“My sole focus has been getting physically prepared for this year. I wanted to make sure I start well and the team starts well.”

Smith is equally adamant that any decision made by Slater on his NRL future will have no bearing on his personal dealings with the Storm.

“As far as Billy’s decision and whether it impacts on what I do, it doesn’t impact on me at all,” he said.

“I don’t know what Billy is thinking, he might wait until the last game to reveal what he’s doing ... like last year, we didn’t know what he was doing until after the grand final.

“If the discussions arise around my future sometime soon, I’m happy to go ahead with those discussions separate to what Billy does.”