Is Cameron Smith the next Immortal?
Roar Rookie By Jake Savage, 7 Oct 2012 Jake Savage is a Roar Rookie
Cameron Smith will need to be at his peak for the Storm against Manly. Images: (Mark Kolbe/AAP)
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There has been a lot of talk this week following the Melbourne Storm’s victory in the NRL grand final that Storm captain Cameron Smith could be the next Immortal, and a future player-coach of Melbourne should Craig Bellamy leave for greener pastures.
Smith has been criticised for his errant goal-kicking in pressure games, as well as his wrestling tactics in the tackle area.
But we cannot deny Smith’s impressive performance as a player, nor the character of a man who, in a league full of controversy, has always showed us what truly is great about rugby league.
Smith capped a remarkable season by winning Melbourne’s player of the year award on Friday night.
The honour comes after he led the Storm to their second (or fourth, if you fancy stirring) premiership win in last week’s grand final, while he also guided Australia and Queensland to notable victories in 2012.
Smith received 28 votes to edge out Ryan Hoffman (26) and Cooper Cronk (23) for the award. It the 29-year-old’s fifth player of the year award, and it complements this year’s Dally M Hooker of the Year title.
He also became the second highest point scoring forward in history of game this season, and played 25 games out of a possible 27, taking his career club tally to 238 matches.
Also throw in his 24 Origin appearances for Queensland, including three man of the match awards and two Wally Lewis medals.
But wait, we’re not done yet. Don’t forget Smith’s 29 Tests for Australia and his two appearances for the NRL All Stars, or his Golden Boot Award in 2007, or the three times that he has been named RLIF Hooker of the Year (08, 09 and 11)
Smith won the Dally M medal in 2006. He has been Dally M Hooker of the Year four times (06, 08, 11, 12), Representative Player of the Year twice (07, 11) and Captain of the Year once, in 2011.
You can see why respected league writers put this man on a pedestal.
But Smith’s best attribute of all is his modesty, and the fact that he always heaps praise on his teamates and coaches.
Cameron Smith may be an Immortal one day. We could certainly do a lot worse.
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- Cameron Smith, Melbourne Storm, NRL, Rugby League, Rugby League Immortals
October 7th 2012 @ 5:40am
Johnno said | October 7th 2012 @ 5:40am | Report comment
No. Sticky or Alf . Or brett kenny best resune ever in Rugby league. 4 titles, kept wally lewis out of 1982 kangaroo tour test team, best player award on 82 and 86 roo tour in test series, golden boot winner 1986, challenge cup title man if match too. better state of origin record head to head vs the king what more does Bert have to do.
October 7th 2012 @ 5:58am
steve b said | October 7th 2012 @ 5:58am | Report comment
The selection process is flawed anyway so for mine not a true indicator ,so why not give to anyone you like ,if they can leave the likes of Coote ,Proven ,and others behind in favour of John’s it’s nothing more than a joke of an award made up by magazine to sell copies ,i like fui,fui yeh let’s make him the next Immortal ..LOL …
October 7th 2012 @ 6:18am
Roarsome said | October 7th 2012 @ 6:18am | Report comment
Exactly, it’s like the Logies of Rugby League. Before 9 had the media rights the section process could have been seen as relatively fair though given the age of cross-media advertising and cash for comment, is it any wonder that a channel 9 favorite received the latest award from the magazine it advertises relentlessly during the season? With all the competition amongst the media for sales, NRL immortality could be more about publicity and magazine sales than credibility.
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October 7th 2012 @ 10:07am
eagleJack said | October 7th 2012 @ 10:07am | Report comment
Yeah cause Andrew Johns didn’t change the way the halfback role was played and influence not only the younger generation of league players, but many Union players as well. Crazy stuff that he got inducted. Those living Immortals, along with league royalty such as Wayne Bennett and John Grant, truly must have no idea about the game.
October 7th 2012 @ 8:17am
Huggo said | October 7th 2012 @ 8:17am | Report comment
Cameron Smith won’t be next, but will warrant consideration in the future. The judging panel (many of whom are highly respected within league circles) decided Andrew Johns would be inducted this year, get over it. It was an eventuality, as is the induction of greats such as Kenny and Provan. As far as being an award to sell magazines, well, it has not enticed me to buy Rugby League Week. Especially when all facets of this award can be found for free splashed across news, current affair and sports shows, not to mention sites such as this on the internet.
October 7th 2012 @ 9:59am
solly said | October 7th 2012 @ 9:59am | Report comment
Don’t let anyone kid you, Melbourne have won four grand finals.
A trophy can’t be taken away from you unless you have won it.
Whatever financial support they have had, other clubs, with more history annd tradition and members etc, ought to take a leaf out of the Storm’s book.
At least before the auditors get to it first.
October 7th 2012 @ 10:09am
eagleJack said | October 7th 2012 @ 10:09am | Report comment
Smith will certainly be inducted in due course. And will be thoroughly deserved.
October 7th 2012 @ 10:30am
dz said | October 7th 2012 @ 10:30am | Report comment
Lockyer has to be in line before Smith.
October 7th 2012 @ 12:45pm
Razza said | October 7th 2012 @ 12:45pm | Report comment
GO THE EAGLES
Here we go, all the experts naming the next Immortal, i am not going to be that precise, but i will say this, there are alot of players way in line for the honour before Cameron Smith, i thought Joey John’s being named was a bit premature, sure they are great players, but we are talking about special people here and the award should not be thrown around willy – nilly.
I do not know the criteria for being chosen as an Immortal, but what ever it is there is only room for a very few selected players in my book and the honour should be presented to a player no less then every ten years, this is a special award and it should not be given lightly.
I have been lucky enough to see all of these players in the flesh and have been specially lucky enough to see 5 of the aready chosen 8 Immortals play the game and i can tell you, there are alot of past players that should be chosen before the modern day player, this is my opinion only and i will tell you they have all not been captains of a team.
GO THE EAGLES
October 7th 2012 @ 1:18pm
Pot Stirrer said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:18pm | Report comment
a player should have to be retired 10 years and be voted on by a group of his peers from the same decade. Every one knows Coote Provan and Meninga are legends of thier ears and should all be inducted.
October 7th 2012 @ 4:05pm
jamesb said | October 7th 2012 @ 4:05pm | Report comment
Coote and Provan should have been made immortals decades ago!
anyway, I think it will be lockyer in five years time, followed by Smith.
But I do not like the process on how the immortal is chosen. How people like Phil Rothfield get the chance to vote for an immortal is beyond me.