MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 17: Cameron Smith of the Storm runs with the ball during the round 23 NRL match between the Melbourne Storm and the Parramatta Eels at AAMI Park on August 17, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

Melbourne Storm expect Cameron Smith to play on next season, despite reports the two parties are at loggerheads over money.

There was speculation Smith would announce his retirement after the grand final following his comment they he could join Billy Slater in retirement if the Storm won the grand final.

Smith played down suggestions he is about to retire at Storm's awards ceremony on Wednesday night and expressed his desire to play on for an 18th season.

"There's been a bit of talk over the last couple of weeks about retirement - that was just a question posed to me if we were to win (the premiership), and we didn't," Smith said at the club's awards night on Wednesday.

"There's no doubt I'm keen to play on. The situation at the moment is that club and my management are working through it and everything looks really positive.

"I'm keen to play on and hopefully that's all sorted soon."

Should Smith play on in 2019 and barring injury, he will be the first NRL player to play 400 games.

He is also just 32 points behind all-time points record holder Hazem El Masri (2418).

Smith has played 384 NRL games, 42 Origin and 56 Tests.

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