Dally M rookie of the year Harry Grant admits its humbling to hear Cameron Smith did not want to stand in the way of his burgeoning NRL career.

Smith is yet to confirm his playing future but Melbourne are preparing for life without the veteran after his contract expired at the end of last month.

The 37-year-old revealed part of the reason he didn’t sign a new deal with the Storm was his fear it would lead to Grant and Brandon Smith leaving the club.

“There’s no way I’m re-signing for another 12 months if the club is going to lose either Harry or Brandon,” an excerpt from Smith’s autobiography, the Storm Within, read.

“I don’t want to see the club struggle in the long term just so I can play one more season.”

Grant, who has had a breakout season on loan at Wests Tigers, will make his State of Origin debut for Queensland on Wednesday.

The 22-year-old said knowing his own future had played a factor in Smith’s decision had blown him away.

“That’s pretty hard to take Cam saying that,” Grant said.

Having become a first grade regular during his year with the Tigers, Grant had indicated he would exercise a get-out clause in his contract if he’d found himself behind Smith upon his return to the Storm.

The Maroons rookie though says he’s 100 per cent committed to the Storm in 2021 and fighting to take over the No.9 jersey with Brandon Smith.

“Yeah I’ll go back down to Melbourne,” he said.

“I think we start January 4. Get a good break, back home to Yeppoon and then get back into it.”

Smith has been linked with moves to Brisbane or Gold Coast and admits he is yet to decide whether to retire or continue his vaunted career at a rival NRL club after a record 430 first grand appearances for the Storm.

“I don’t know how to explain it,” Smith said in his book, excerpts of which were published by News Corp Australia on Sunday.

“I just didn’t feel the decline at any stage of that 2020 season. If anything, I felt better than I ever had, in all aspects of my footy.”