MELBOURNE Storm has lost another premiership player after confirmation today that back-rower Jeremy Smith will leave at the end of the season for a three-year deal with St George Illawarra.

While the Storm has had success at re-signing a number of players after the huge loss of Israel Folau - with Dallas Johnson, Jeff Lima and Adam Blair all turning down bigger offers from other clubs - the late blooming Smith was always the most likely to be squeezed out by the salary cap constraints.

The 28-year-old New Zealand international turned down an offer Dragons last year when he was given permission by the Storm to test the market a year before his contract expired. That decision ended any hopes Newton, a mid-season signing from Newcastle, had of remaining with the Storm last year and he departed for Super League club Hull KR.

Smith's manager Sam Ayoub today said Smith, who made his NRL debut relatively late in his career in 2004 and took some time before he bedded down a regular first grade berth, would have loved to have remained in Melbourne. But he confirmed the decision came down to money.

"It has only been the last couple of years that he has earned reasonably money (and) he just thought at this stage he would look after his family so he took up a great offer," Ayoub said.

"He was willing to give up a fair bit to stay in Melbourne but there was a substantial difference (between the offers)."

He told Storm coach Craig Bellamy and football operations manager Frank Ponissi of his decision before last night's 48-20 win over North Queensland in which he scored an impressive solo try.