Craig Bellamy not pushing Cameron Smith on his Storm future

Cameron Smith turned 38 this week, and once again speculation surrounds the future of the Melbourne Storm veteran.

Melbourne’s Cameron Smith passes the ball out from a scrum win during the Storm’s match against Newcastle in Gosford last Saturday. Picture: AAP

Melbourne captain Cameron Smith was on the phone to The Australian on Wednesday discussing his appreciation for his manager Isaac Moses when talk casually veered towards his future.

Smith turned 38 this week but rather than his birthday, it must have felt like Groundhog day. Once again, owing largely to his impressive form of late, Smith’s future has become a talking point as the prospect grows of him playing on in 2021.

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While Storm fans and the media press for an answer, Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy is happy to play the long game. He won’t be pushing Smith into making a decision.

“I’m not going to tell Cameron Smith when he should be retiring,” Bellamy said.

“When he asks me for my advice I will give him my advice but at the end of the day, I ain’t going to tell him it’s time to be retired.

“That’s just me showing him the respect for what he’s done for our club for 20 years or whatever it is that he’s been here and what he’s basically done for the game.

“At the end of the day I’m sure Cameron will be aware of what he wants to do, how he wants to do it and how much he needs to do it.”

The Storm’s patience won’t go down well at Wests Tigers. The Tigers have kept money aside for hooker Harry Grant, who is currently on loan at the club and has a get-out clause in his contract with the Storm should Smith play on.

Yet Grant will play second fiddle to Smith. While Smith’s future plays out in the background, Bellamy went on the attack on Thursday over renewed criticism in the Sydney media at the way Smith plays the game.

Again, it was groundhog day.

“With Cameron, he’s used to it,” Bellamy said.

“I don’t know whether it spurs him on or not but it’s funny, the criticism comes from some people that haven’t really played the game and they haven’t coached the game. All of a sudden, they’re experts. I don’t know where that leaves them.

“Cameron has played 400 NRL games, almost 50 Origins and so many games for Australia. But people that have never played the game, never coached the game, never really been involved in a footy club come out and bag him all the time. That doesn’t really add up to me.

“Other people might listen to that but at the end of the day, I’m not interested in listening to it.”

Smith has long been lambasted by sections of the Sydney media for his gamesmanship. He seems less concerned about it than others. At times, Melbourne have fired up in his defence. Thursday was one of those days as they prepared themselves for Friday night’s game against Penrith at Campbelltown Stadium.

“Most guys that have been in the game as players or coaches — whether they like Cameron or they don’t like Cameron — I think they have a lot of respect for Cameron. Because of what he’s done in the game,” Bellamy said.

“But most of this criticism comes from guys that have never been involved in footy clubs.’’