Wednesday 16 November 2016 16:48, UK
Australia captain Cameron Smith accepts he will almost certainly wear the green and gold for the last time on English soil this weekend but insists he is not ready to call a halt to his career.
The 33-year-old Melbourne hooker will win his 49th cap for the Kangaroos in Sunday's Ladbrokes Four Nations final against New Zealand at Anfield, where he will be hoping to preserve an unbeaten record in the UK.
"I drew one in 2009 at the Stoop against New Zealand - I scored the try with two minutes to go," Smith said. "Hopefully that record stays intact.
"I was aware before we left Australia that this could be the last time I play for Australia in the UK.
"That's why I was really looking forward to the game last weekend against England [at the London Stadium]. I always enjoy playing up against England. It was nice to go there and play well and just savour the moment.
"It was a beautiful stadium, a beautiful day and we got a good result. That's why I held the team back from leaving the sheds for quite a while."
Smith overtook coach Mal Meninga's total of 46 appearances in Australia's 14-8 win over the Kiwis at the Ricoh Arena earlier this month and now only his predecessor, Darren Lockyer, stands in front of him with 59 caps.
Smith will move a step closer to Lockyer's record when Australia host the 2017 World Cup and, unlike team-mate Johnathan Thurston, he has no intention of placing an end date on his international career.
"I think I'll just carry on playing," he added. "I haven't really looked to the future and put an end date on my representative career. It's a huge year next year, having a World Cup on home soil.
"I played in the World Cup in 2008 back home when we lost and that was a pretty shallow feeling, losing that trophy in front of our home crowd.
"I want to give myself every opportunity to be involved in that next year and after that tournament's finished there's a whole off season to think about continuing on the following year. I'm still contracted to the [Melbourne] Storm in 2018. I'll probably think about that after next year."
Smith rejected Meninga's offer to sit out the opening victory against Scotland and says he is enjoying the game as much as ever.
"It's a bit more difficult now because I've got three young kids and my wife at home and it's hard to leave those guys for six weeks," he said. "I love spending time with my family.
"But as far as playing and being around the team and playing in great stadiums and having victories, it's still as enjoyable as when I started back in 2006.
"I'm still excited to get a jersey and have my name read out at the start of each week when Mal names the team. I still feel great. I feel I'm as strong and fit as I've ever been in my whole career."
