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Anyone who has followed anything I have posted on this site would know that I am quite happy to make an unpopular statement. However, even I have shied away from saying what I am about to say.
I think Cameron Smith is the greatest hooker to play the game of rugby league, but right now he isn’t the best hooker in the NRL.
As a Queenslander it pains me to say this. Cameron Smith debuted for the Maroons in game three of the 2003 series and following three series losses in his first seven games for Queensland, the side has embarked on an unprecedented period of success.
He has completely changed the way that hookers are expected to play. He has it all. He is a rock in defence, he has the playmaking skills and kicking game of the best halves in the competition (with both feet I might add), and he has the vision to pick his opportunities to scoot out of dummy half and score some easy metres.
From the day he debuted until midway through last year, I felt he was uncontested as the best hooker in the game.
The NRL is, to borrow from American parlance, a copycat league. Every great player paves the way for the next wave of talent to take it just that one step further. All the great players are constantly taking and borrowing parts of each others game.
Players used to watch the way Billy Slater played in the Storm’s backline movements and now every single custodian is expected to be able to perform these skills. Guys like Matt Moylan are playing their first game in grade with all the skills required to be a playmaker from the fullback spot.
Darren Lockyer, who also revolutionised fullback play, changed the way five-eighths played the game. After Lockyer, most five-eighths are capable of taking over a first receiver and general playmaking role.
Midway through 2013 a player who had copied Smith finally passed him in almost all facets of the game. Jake Friend has the same vision Smith does, he can kick with both feet, he is a little bit quicker when he darts out of dummy-half and thus he picks up more metres and he can defend better than Smith has ever been capable of.
On Saturday night in a wet, muddy game of football against the Melbourne Storm, the Roosters ran out winners 24-12. Despite carrying a serious injury throughout the game, which may have prematurely ended his season, Jake Friend not only comprehensively outplayed Cameron Smith but while he was on the field he dominated every facet the game.
Other than Mitchell Pearce, he was the best on ground. His vision in setting up the Daniel Tupou try was Smith-esque.
It is a shame that Friend’s season may have ended prematurely because it would have been interesting to see. A strong finals series culminating in another Roosters premiership may have been enough to truly entrench himself in the debate over who is the premier nine in the comp.
If Friend is overlooked for Robbie Farah for a spot in the Australian Squad this season it will be an absolute travesty, because he might not be the greatest number nine in the comp but right now I think he might be the best.
And if he isn’t it is darn close.
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