League: Mates back Smith - even if he moves on

Kangaroos captain Cameron Smith has reportedly been offered some $3m to join the Brisbane Broncos. Photo / Getty Images

Cooper Cronk has urged Cameron Smith to do what is best for his family when weighing up his future - and Cronk says if the Storm skipper decides to leave Melbourne and take the big money on offer at Brisbane "he absolutely has my blessing".

In the wake of the World Cup final early this morning, the Kangaroos captain's future will now become one of the major talking points in the game - with Smith reportedly offered A$3.3 million over three years at the Broncos, making him the highest-paid player in the NRL.

Smith said before the World Cup that he would put off all negotiations until after the tournament. He has one year remaining on his current deal at the Storm but he has already said that he would put family first before deciding where he would play in 2015.

Cronk went through the same process last year with plenty of interest from rival clubs but ended up staying at Melbourne for another four years. Asked if he had any advice for Smith, Cronk said: "First and foremost, our allegiance is to him the person and as a friend. So if that suits him to go, he absolutely has my blessing and if he stays, even better.

"Cameron will make a decision that best suits him and his family and he will inform us of that in due course. It is part of the professional life these days. But, to be honest, the process - and I have said it before - I enjoyed going through it and it never was a burden for me.

"It didn't interfere with my football and it didn't interfere with anything outside. I took it as part and parcel of it and the decision was quite easy in the end. I don't think we sit around and have open discussions [on Smith's future] but we definitely know that if needed the other one is available.

"But while on the outside it is a tough thing, let's be honest, it is professional football and we are privileged to play the game so whatever decision Cameron makes he is going to be in a very good position."

Regarded as the best leader in the game and one of the greatest big match players of all-time, Smith would be a perfect fit for the Broncos who have struggled since Darren Lockyer's retirement.

There were reports the Brisbane deal was as good as done but Smith denied he had started negotiations before leaving for the World Cup.

But the one guarantee he gave was that he would do what was best for his wife and three children and Smith conceded his wife missed family support networks back in Brisbane.

He said before the World Cup: "I want to make a decision first before I talk any contracts about my future because my future is not about money. It is not about anything other than what is best for my family.

"We will sit down as a family, obviously my wife and my three little kids, and decide what is best for us after the season is finished."