'Playing games': Coach confronts Cam Smith over NRL 'soap opera'

Cameron Smith's future is the burning issue in rugby league at the moment and everyone it seems - even Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy - wants answers.

Many expected Smith to make a call on whether he will play on or retire, after Melbourne's 30-6 win against Manly on Sunday afternoon.

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No such announcement came and Smith has even warned NRL fans not to expect a decision before Tuesday's Melbourne board meeting.

The 37-year-old said his three-week injury layoff has made his decision even harder, after admitting that the break left him feeling fresh.

The rugby league world is understandably dying to know whether Smith intends to hang up the boots or play on - whether that be with Melbourne or another club.

For the Storm, however, having clarity around the situation is crucial so the club can sort out the futures of star hookers Brandon Smith and Harry Grant.

Grant is on loan to Wests Tigers, who want to keep him, while Brandon Smith's manager says he wants to play elsewhere in a starting role should the elder Smith stay on.

Daily Telegraph rugby league reporter Phil Rothfield reported that the Storm were expecting to learn of Smith's decision before the Manly game and that Bellamy had actually confronted him about the drawn-out saga, seeking clarity.

“Craig Bellamy bailed him up last week on Tuesday and put it on him. Cameron said I genuinely don’t know'", Rothfield said.

"Before the game against Manly, the Storm actually wanted a decision."

"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."

The Storm captain is tipped to retire at the end of the year, or possibly suit up for either Brisbane or Gold Coast for a season.

But the 37-year-old, who returned from three weeks out with a shoulder injury in their 24-point win over over Manly on Sunday afternoon, said he won't be rushed into making a call.

"I'd like to make a decision as soon as I can but there are a lot of things I still need to think about," Smith told the Storm website.

"I guess being on the sidelines in the last few weeks it hasn't made it any easier, it's made it harder, to be honest.

"I feel good, I feel fresh from the three weeks off.

"But I'd like to make a decision for myself and the Melbourne Storm moving forward."

League world calls on Smith to make a decision

The Daily Telegraph's rugby league reporter Paul Kent last week branded Smith "selfish" for not making a call sooner.

Following the latest delay in announcing a decision, Fox Sports chief NRL reporter James Hooper suggested Smith liked "playing games with the media" and said he seemed to enjoy dragging the drama out for as long as possible.

“I feel as though Cameron Smith is in danger of disappearing up his own Chaminda Vaas if he doesn’t put us all out of our misery sooner rather than later,” Hooper said on The Big League Wrap.

“He has had this incredible career, but he also has this penchant when it comes to big decisions for subterfuge and dragging things out.

“Perhaps part of Cameron enjoys playing games with the media. I’m not sure, but I just feel as though such a big decision — not just for him personally, but for his club as well and other key personnel at that organisation.

“The longer it drags out the more of a soap opera it becomes. If he was going to retire why wouldn’t he put us all out of our misery?

“He has had an incredible career but he does seem to drag things on at times.”

with AAP