The Gold Coast Titans have enough salary cap space to sign Cameron Smith, according to The Sydney Morning Herald’s Andrew Webster.
The Titans, who have one spot on their roster to fill, have been heavily linked to Smith who is yet to make an official announcement on his future with the start of the 2021 season almost a month away.
Webster understands that the NRL has given the Titans the green light to chase the 37-year-old after Storm football manager Frank Ponissi revealed the club is planning for life without their champion hooker.
“He keeps getting linked to the Titans. I know people who talk to Mal Meninga (Gold Coast's Head of Culture) about it, Mal’s very edgy about it and he dances around the question,” Webster told 1170 SEN’s The Matty John’s Show.
“They have money in their cap, they have one spot they have to fill before August, I talk to sources at the NRL who said that you’ve got to sign a player of market value, but it’s very hard for a bloke like Cameron who hasn’t signed with anyone, who is off contract and who’s 37.
“But they said they would have no issue with the Titans signing Cameron Smith with the money that’s left in their cap at the moment. It’s doable.”
Rugby League Immortal Andrew Johns says securing Smith’s signature would make the Titans a finals contender.
“I hope he doesn’t play for the Titans,” Johns said.
“You should only ever see Cameron Smith in a Storm jersey. He can’t play for another club.
“I don’t think they (Gold Coast) could win the comp. The likes of Melbourne and Penrith are far ahead.
"They could definitely finish in the top eight. Their forward pack is sensational.”
Gold Coast just missed the finals last season but came home strongly winning their last five matches under coach Justin Holbrook.