NRL 2021: Cameron Smith spotted training on Gold Coast

Titans boss Steve Mitchell has addressed the Cameron Smith signing speculation after he was seen training on the Gold Coast.

Cam Smith has been spotted training on the Gold Coast. Picture: Facebook/Mudgeeraba Redbacks

Mysterious NRL legend Cameron Smith has been spotted training on the Gold Coast, fuelling speculation he is on the verge of signing an eleventh-hour deal to play for the Titans in 2021.

Smith was seen kicking a footy around the league fields at Firth Park in Mudgeeraba on Tuesday morning.

It is one of the first times he has been spotted training in public since relocating to the Gold Coast after Melbourne’s 2020 NRL premiership win.

Smith, 37, is yet to announce his future plans following the expiry of his contract with the Storm.

He was tipped to retire as a one-club legend after 430 NRL games for Melbourne, but the four-month silence has fuelled suggestions Smith could continue his career.

Speculation was rife today that Smith had agreed to terms with the Titans overnight after months of secret talks with culture boss Mal Meninga.

Cam Smith has been spotted training on the Gold Coast. Picture: Facebook/Mudgeeraba Redbacks

But the NRL salary-cap auditor has not received any correspondence or registration requests from the Titans at this stage.

Gold Coast management have been tight-lipped about their rumoured pursuit of the NRL’s most-capped player.

There is a sentiment within the halls of the NRL that Smith will not play again and will announce his retirement in the coming weeks.

Under the NRL’s salary-cap ceiling, the Titans are the only club with the financial room to afford Smith. The Broncos could only afford Smith if they offloaded at least two players, but Brisbane coach Kevin Walters insists the Queensland legend will not be at Red Hill in 2021.

What has become clear is Smith will not be playing for the Storm in 2021, with his children enrolled in Gold Coast schools.

However he has failed to rule out playing for a rival club and the Titans have fuelled speculation by refusing to rule out making a move for Smith.

Titans figures have maintained a consistent line, declaring they have not had any contact with Smith.

While the NRL season is less than a month away, Smith has plenty of time to get ready for a shock cameo at a new club which would generate enormous interest in the game.

Cameron Smith was expected to retire a one-club legend. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The Mudgeeraba Redbacks posted a photo of Smith in plain clothes and footy boots on their Facebook page.

Renowned for his “accountant’s body”, Smith did not look much different to when he featured in the 2020 NRL grand final on October 25.

“Our Junior Vice President (Savili Sega) bumped into the legend himself Cam Smith down at the web today,” the Redbacks wrote in a post.

“How brilliant is it to have this legend living in our city and just kicking the footy around on a beautiful sunny day.”

Titans CEO Steve Mitchell says the club is no closer to signing Cameron Smith, three weeks out from the start of the NRL season.

Mitchell said Gold Coast hadn’t had discussions with Smith about playing with the Titans in 2021, despite the Bulletin’s ‘Get Cam to the Titans’campaign revealing 90 per cent of fans wanted the hooker at the club.

“Retention and recruitment is something we don’t comment on but we haven’t had any discussions,” Mitchell said.

“The season is three weeks away. It’s never been looked at as an option.”

Mitchell said he understood the media hype around the Melbourne Storm captain who recently moved to the Gold Coast with his family.

“In really good intent the media speculation around Cam coming to the club has been a wonderful PR (public relations) campaign for us,” Mitchell said.

“We have had media exposure that you cannot buy. The population, our fan base and the media are excited about the future for us and the speculation is endearing so we need to be grateful.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Cameron Smith spotted training on Gold Coast