NRL 2020: Melbourne Storm powerbrokers ask for Cameron Smith answers

Melbourne’s top dogs have asked for answers over Cameron Smith’s future to ensure the mystery doesn’t distract from the main goal.

Everyone’s waiting for an answer from Cameron Smith.

Melbourne Storm’s board has been reassured the mystery surrounding Cameron Smith’s future won’t derail the club’s premiership tilt this season.

Smith is weighing up whether to retire, play on next season or continue his career at another club and while he’s yet to make up his mind, Melbourne wants an answer.

Kayo is your ticket to the 2020 NRL Telstra Premiership. Every game of every round Live & On-Demand with no-ad breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

Smith’s decision will impact on the Storm’s planning for 2021 and beyond as it looks to sort out its salary cap and determine if it can keep talented back-up hookers Harry Grant and Brandon Smith.

Grant is on loan at Wests Tigers this season while Kiwi Test rake Brandon Smith has said he will leave Melbourne to seek other opportunities if his namesake goes around again next year — even though he is contracted until the end of 2022.

Storm football manager Frank Ponissi told theSydney Morning Herald he’s informed the club’s board the Smith speculation won’t distract the players from their goal of winning the grand final.

“The board, given our current situation, wants to know how we’re getting on up here, and they asked about the effect of the pressure on Cameron and the uncertainty around the group,” Ponissi said.

“I reassured them there are absolutely no problems at all. There’s no distraction on the group. This is the closest group I’ve seen at the Storm in the past 13 years. The way they are playing on the weekend shows that.”

Ponissi also told club powerbrokers he was confident Brandon Smith and Grant being dragged into the saga wouldn’t negatively impact on-field performances.

“It’s a nice headache to have. We have three world-class hookers. Two of those players have contracts for next year and beyond,” Ponissi told The Herald.

“Ideally, it would be great to know what is happening. But if Cameron does play, we will deal with it like we have with every issue we have in the past.”

RELATED: Twist in sorry tale of $6m footy flop

RELATED: Ruthless way Benji discovered he was being cut

Smith doesn’t know what his next move will be.

Earlier in the week Daily Telegraph rugby league reporter Phil Rothfield said everyone at the Storm — including coach Craig Bellamy, who is extremely tight with Smith — was hoping for clarity sooner rather than later.

“Before the game against Manly, the Storm actually wanted a decision,” Rothfield told the Big Sports Breakfast.

“And this was based on a conversation I had with their chairman Matt Tripp who, as much as he respects Cameron’s position in the game, he wants to make a call, he wants to let Harry Grant know and he wants to let Brandon Smith know.

“If he is to retire, the Storm want to know about it now because they want to do something special. There’s never been a player in our game like Cameron Smith. There’s never been a better player, there’s never been anyone who has achieved (as much) and played as many games as he has and they want to plan something special.

“Craig Bellamy bailed him up last week on Tuesday and put it on him and said, ‘Look, we’re getting close’. Cameron said, ‘I genuinely don’t know’.”

Melbourne is based on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast after being moved out of Victoria because of COVID-19, but the change in scenery hasn’t hurt its form.

The Storm are second on the ladder, just three points behind Penrith and are coming off a clinical 30-6 win over Manly.

They face the sixth-placed Rabbitohs on Friday night.