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Brandon Smith may have won the starting Storm hooking position by default with injury to Harry Grant, but he will take it as he looks to lock in his future.
Brandon Smith finally has the spotlight to show his contract value as an NRL hooker, but he may not need to after declaring he wants to remain at the Melbourne Storm.
Smith will start at No.9 in the NRL season-opener against South Sydney next Thursday following the departure of captain Cameron Smith and then injury to rising star Harry Grant.
It's a position he's long coveted even requesting a release from his contract for the 2022 season to ensure he can be a starting hooker.
Smith and Grant were in a tight tussle until the latter's knee injury, which has ruled him out for the first three games.
"I'm super excited," said Smith.
"It's a position that Harry and I have been going at for a while and I got it by default, which is not really how I wanted to get it but I will take it."
The 24-year-old is leaving contract negotiations in the hands of his manager with Gold Coast the front-runners in a crowded field, but hoped his future lies with Melbourne.
He is also waiting on a decision on the future of coach Craig Bellamy, saying it was a "huge contributing factor".
"I want to go out there and play and my manager wants to make the most money out of me, and I want to make money as well but I want to be happy as well," the Kiwi international said.
"I see myself being a really happy person in the Melbourne Storm jersey.
"I see Jahrome Hughes just re-signed for three years and I think he took a $200,000 pay cut - that's a testament to the jersey that we wear and how much respect we have for it.
"Regardless of what happens I want to be in a Melbourne Storm jersey."
After suffering two facial fractures in his role as an impact lock forward, Smith wants his future to be at hooker and has dropped five kilos in the off-season to ready himself.
He said the Storm game style has had to adjust to having some extra speed at No.9 without their 37-year-old captain calling the shots.
"No disrespect to Cameron but Harry and I are a little bit faster than him.
"We may not make decisions as good as him but we're going to come at you at bit faster so the boys have to get up a bit quicker and push up a bit flatter."
