Family to decide Storm captain's future
Melbourne's Test rugby league skipper Cameron Smith has warned his family is likely to be the key to whether he extends his NRL contract with the Storm beyond the end of next year.
The Storm are keen to handcuff Smith to a long-term deal, as they did this week with halfback Cooper Cronk who also had a year remaining on his contract.
Cronk extended his deal until the end of 2013, while Melbourne also has exciting backs Greg Inglis and Billy Slater signed until the end of 2010.
Re-signing Queensland and Australian skipper Smith, who is currently contracted until the end of 2009, would be a further statement of intent from the reigning premiers as they set about building a dynasty.
While Smith stressed he was happy at the Storm, the birth of his first child Jada earlier this year has given the 25-year-old and his young family much to think about.
Both Smith and partner Barbara grew up in south-east Queensland and all their family remain there - with Smith suggesting family considerations will play a big role as he negotiates what will probably be his last major contract.
"There's a bit more to weigh up in my case because I've got a young family now, we've got a little daughter, and all our family are up in Queensland," Smith told AAP.
"When it comes to negotiations (with the Storm), it might take a little bit longer than a guy like Coops.
"But I'm very happy in Melbourne at the moment, it's a great bunch of blokes, they've always treated us really well and we'll see how we go."
Smith said Cronk's new deal was a huge boost for Melbourne ahead of Friday night's clash with the Gold Coast Titans at Olympic Park.
But Smith warned the Titans can expect a fired-up Storm, keen to make amends for their shock defeat by the Warriors last weekend and an 18-0 loss to Gold Coast in the middle of the State of Origin series in June.
"We were very disappointed with our performance against the Warriors - we thought we underperformed massively," Smith said.
"If you don't turn up with the right attitude, anything's going to beat you.
"We're definitely going to turn in a different performance against the Titans - just turning up at Olympic Park isn't going to win us the game."
Melbourne sit second, with the Titans just outside the top eight and needing a win to lift themselves above the finals-fringe bottleneck.
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