Cameron Smith

Smith told The Australian’s Brent Read that he’d take up a role if it fit in with his family and work commitments.

“If I am approached for next year then I would certainly consider it,” he said.

The 35-year-old hooker said he could retire after the Storm were beaten by the Sydney Roosters in last year's NRL Grand Final.

Stalwarts Billy Slater and Ryan Hoffman both called time on their careers at the end of last season after Cooper Cronk had departed for the Roosters following the 2017 campaign.

Storm legend Smith will not be following the trio out of the door, though, after agreeing a new deal which is set to see him become the first NRL player to reach the 400-game milestone.

Always. Proud. Forever. Storm.

Fox Sports reports the No. 9 has called a press conference for 1pm in Melbourne where he will make the announcement alongside coach Kevin Walters.

Smith’s exit coincides with the representative retirements of Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk, which were announced at the end of last year.

It means Queensland will need a new captain and hooker for the State of Origin series starting on June 6.

Since both are off contract at the end of the 2018 Telstra Premiership, there has been speculation suggesting they could exitithe AAMI Park gates simultaneously so they didn't have to exist without the other.

Bellamy told NRL.com no such plans or conversations had taken place on the subject of synchronising their final curtain calls.

"At the end of the day he's never asked me what I'm doing and I've never asked him. It's a pretty private and personal thing," Bellamy said.

The champion duo claimed every available major medal and trophy over the last year, including the Golden Boot and Dally M and Clive Churchill medals. On a team level, they secured a State of Origin series victory, a World Cup win, a Telstra Premiership and now a WCC triumph.

Bellamy said they don't always get the recognition they deserve.

"I was a really proud coach tonight," he said.

The Melbourne Storm, Queensland Maroons and Australia skipper was presented with the award by RLIF chairman Nigel Wood at a World Cup luncheon in Brisbane on Wednesday, a decade after he won the prestigious gong in 2007.

Smith edged out Tongan wrecking ball Jason Taumalolo to claim the prestigious prize, with England winger Jermaine McGilvary finishing third. Fiji's Suliasi Vunivalu also made the four-man short list.

Granville contributed a try, a line break, two tackle breaks and 39 tackles in a tight performance in the middle against Melbourne last week, and he continuously got the Cowboys forwards on the front foot, as evidenced by the ease with which North Queensland rolled up the field against the Storm. 

Smith gave Granville a huge wrap in the post-match press conference, praising the younger hooker's speed and decision making out of dummy-half. 

The Storm players spoke early in the week about ensuring they delivered a fitting performance in Smith's milestone game.

Scoring seven tries to one at AAMI Park in Melbourne, they did so in spades.

And captain Smith, as usual, was front and centre despite taking a pectoral injury into the game.

The 34-year-old topped his team's tackle count and had four try assists.

"The players really put in a big effort for Cameron," coach Craig Bellamy said.

In fact, the veteran hooker is even a small chance of playing in the Storm's next NRL match against Manly on Sunday.

There were fears Smith's season was over after the he was reduced to just 44 minutes - his lowest in eight years - in their win over the Raiders.

However, scans on Sunday confirmed the Australian captain could be back by the Storm's Round 23 clash against the Sydney Roosters at the latest.

"We were pleased to find out this afternoon Cameron has only suffered a minor tear to his pec," Storm football director Frank Ponissi said on Sunday.

And as the Queensland skipper prepares to reach that milestone tonight Petero Civoniceva says it is a feat unlikely to ever be repeated.

A debutant in Game Three of the 2003 series, Smith's run of featuring in 39 of the past 40 Origin matches played was interrupted only by an elbow injury that prevented him from playing in the opening game of the 2010 series.