Melbourne Storm skipper Cameron Smith is considering his future, with it looming possible that he's played his last NRL game.
The Storm bowed out of the post-season in Saturday night's 14-6 preliminary loss to the Sydney Roosters at the SCG.
After the match, the 35-year old could not guarantee that he would take up the option in his contract to extend his career into a 19th campaign.
He will spend the off-season considering his options, having not yet discussed his future with coach Craig Bellamy.
"I don't know [if I'll play on]," Smith said.
"Just thinking about the result tonight. Obviously very disappointed. We wanted to go one extra week.
"My thoughts all year have been to play on next year. That's probably where I'm at at the moment.
"But that might change over the next little period where I have got some time off to think about some things and weigh up what's happening next year.
"You've got to let the emotion simmer down a little bit. Because you don't want to go making rash decisions off the back of a difficult result".
Smith said the prospect of helping lead this young Melbourne team is a "driving factor" in playing on.
"It is," he said.
"The injection of a lot of youth and inexperienced players into the club over two or three years has given me a bit of an extra bounce in my step."Just trying to help these guys evolve into consistent first graders.
"It's been a different role for me during the games but during the weeks too. It's almost like I have been a bit of a coach to those fellas."
Smith should join the referee’s ranks. He already has at least 10 years experience.
You stole my thunder, chalky. Just go Smith.
He will probably stay on in 2020 but I expect him to play reduced minutes. Cannot see him going out quietly. Might help bring young Brandon on in prep for 2021.
Heโs selfish just like Gal. Itโs all about him!! Of course he will play on next year, he will drag it on over the off season to keep the media in suspense but of course that jerk off will play on. Who is he kidding??
Itโs not selfish when he is still arguably the best 9 in the game. A selfish player is somebody like Boyd.
Iโm a QLD fan and itโs really time he just gives it up. As a Warriors fans he just cheats his way pass the refs itโs so annoying knowing he can get away with everything and itโs caught up to him cause he regularly gets penalised now. Also Brandon Smith is a great footy player and deserves that 9 jersey. Cant wait to see him develop even more as a player. Also the Storm will then have his salary to spend, would let Cam Smith and Will Chambers go, maybe even let Brodie Croft go to Brisbane and then make some moves. Jai Arrow would be a great start. Maybe the return of Kevin Proctor for cheap. Issac Luke would be really cheap if your worries about Smith at hooker.
1. Pappy
2. Vunivalu
3. Scott
4. Olam
5. Addo-Carr
6. Munster
7. Hughes
8. JBrom
9. B Smith
10. Jai Arrow
11. KBrom
12. Kaufusi
13. Finucane
14. Grant/Luke
15. NAS
16. Welch
17. Kamikamica/Proctor
Right, as if all other players are “Angels” and not “Selfish” at all. Only a jealous idiot would come up with a word like this. LOL.
And as if Smith would come here, and read the comments and make his life decisions based on the comments of some unimportant clowns. Great.
Well said B2B
โIโm a QLD fan and itโs really time he just gives it up. As a Warriors fanโ
I always think itโs funny how kiwis try join in on origin.