Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy says Cameron Smith will undergo an ankle operation on Tuesday and likely miss the start of the 2015 NRL season.

“He’s gone in for an operation today and he’ll probably miss three to four weeks of the season,” Bellamy told SEN 1116.

The 31-year-old skipper suffered a high ankle sprain in the last game of the home-and-away season this year against Brisbane.

The injury looked like it had cleared up after some time in a moon-boot and crutches, but deteriorated again in the Four Nations final.

“It healed up okay, but he hurt it again in the final,” Bellamy said.