Cam Smith's contract ultimatum to Melbourne Storm revealed

Out of contract Melbourne hooker Cameron Smith is reportedly seeking a surprise two-year deal with the NRL club.

News Corp Australia reported that retirement is the last thing on the 35 year-old’s mind and he is holding out for longer contract with the club he first started with in 2002.

It was initially thought that the Queenslander was looking to play for one more year and that issues with third party deals were delaying his re-signing at Storm.

But a Wednesday report said he wanted to play into 2020, bringing up 19 years with the one club.

Smith has already retired from representative football.

He is the most capped player in the history of the NRL with 384 games and would be expected to pass the 400 mark if he plays next season.

However the Storm still sound confident of having their star man on the field in 2019, with football operations boss Frank Ponissi playing down the drama.

“Cameron has been given time off until January and we are in no rush,” Ponissi told The Courier Mail.

“I have no doubt his new deal will get done in time.

“There’s no real reason for the hold up. We’re still in negotiations and sometimes contract talks take time, but it’s not a sign that Cam won’t be here.

“I would be very, very surprised if Cameron doesn’t play on.

“Cameron is enjoying his first long break in a long time with no World Cup and representative commitments at the end of the season.

“This is the first real off-season that he’s ever had, so we will let him enjoy the off-season and he will come back in the first week in January.”

Meanwhile, NRL expert Dan Ginnane argued the Storm could be forced to decide between Smith and Cameron Munster, with the superstar five-eighth demanding a huge salary.

With AAP