NRL Grand Final: Cameron Smith’s retirement talk a hoax, says family member

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NRL Grand Final: Cameron Smith’s retirement talk a hoax, says family member image

Melbourne captain Cameron Smith’s father has revealed the truth about his son’s NRL future after the Storm hooker sent the media into a frenzy with his cryptic post-match comments last weekend.

Speaking after the Storm’s preliminary final win over Cronulla, the 35-year-old teased that retirement could be an option if his side wins Sunday’s NRL decider against the Sydney Roosters.

“I don’t know, yeah, if you win it, if we were to go on and play well next week, I don’t know, you’d consider it, wouldn’t you,” Smith said.

Pressed on whether hanging up the boots is something he would seriously consider, Smith added: “Maybe. I don’t know. I don’t have a contract next year yet, dunno, we’ll see what happens.”

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But Cameron’s old man, Wayne Smith, told Courier Mail journalist and Sporting News Australia contributor Peter Badel Smith’s comments were simply a ploy to take the heat off team-mate Billy Slater’s shoulder charge on Sosaia Feki.

His dastardly plan worked briefly as every media outlet jumped on the story despite the obvious stench of a blatant diversionary tactic.

But Wayne declared his superstar son will ‘100 percent’ play on in 2019 regardless of the outcome of Sunday’s grand final.

Cameron has previously stated his desire to play on for an 18th season that could see him become the first player to break the NRL’s 400-game barrier.

It is understood the Storm have tabled a one-year, $1 million offer to the former Queensland Maroons and Kangaroos captain.

 

 

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