Storm skipper Cameron Smith leaves door open for NRL retirement
A WEEK after dropping the bombshell that he would consider quitting after the grand final, Cameron Smith did little to quash speculation that he may have played his final game.
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CAMERON Smith has not ruled out following Billy Slater into retirement.
A week after Smith dropped the bombshell that he would consider quitting after the grand final, the Storm skipper did little to quash speculation that he may have played his final game.
“For me it’s not a time or a moment to think about my playing situation next year,” Smith said.
“I’m disappointed with the result tonight. As an older player I would like to sit back and reflect on this season and what we’ve been able to achieve. It’ s been a difficult year. We’ve had to overcome a lot of challenges through various things. When you look back at those challenges and what we have overcome it’s a pretty special effort to get where we are tonight.
“As disappointing as it is, we can all be proud of being here as one of the last two teams.
“We weren’t good enough to win it. The Roosters were a far better footy side.
“I’m going to take a bit of time to put my feet up a little bit. Enjoy the next few weeks of my family. Hopefully something is sorted out soon.”
While Smith wants to play on the 35-year-old is without a contract for next year – remarkably the only player to enter the grand final without a deal for 2019. Smith stepped down from representative football this year to focus on his club commitments.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy has urged Smith and his club to get a deal sorted.
“I’m not the money man,” Bellamy said.
“I don’t talk to players about their contracts. I talk to them about where they fit in the club. That’s my area.
“I don’t think Cameron and myself need to have a conversation about that. He knows what I think of him. He knows I want him to go on.
“He is such an important player of our club and he has plenty left in him as a player. It’ll be up to the hierarchy to sort that out.
“More than anything else, I want him to lead our club.
“There is a fair chance he could end up playing with his son. I’ve never seen a dip in Cameron’s form which is quite remarkably. Hopefully he’ll be the first guy to play 400 games.”
Originally published as Storm skipper Cameron Smith leaves door open for NRL retirement