The more I see and hear of Cameron Smith the more he offends me.
This is unfortunate as I’m seeing and hearing from him with irritating frequency since his apparent appointment as moral compass, mouthpiece and all-round Godfather of rugby league.
I have many problems with this, but the main one pertains to the question of how can Cameron Smith possibly be the moral mouthpiece of the game?
You don’t have to be Silvio Berlusconi to grasp the implications for misuse of power here.
Anyone with an even rudimentary understanding of notions of vested interest and corruption can surely see that this role he has inexplicably assumed is hurting the game.
Even when I set aside the fact that he captains a team with a very recent and deeply insulting record of financial abuses and ethical breaches, I still can’t come to grips with the way that whatever he says is bestowed with such a weighty, magisterial gravity.
This is a privilege not enjoyed by any other captain in the competition.
It’s when he captains the Maroons that the stink really sets in.
His campaign to influence and intimidate the referees prior to Origin II was a master class in manipulation that Jim ‘Jonestown’ Jones would have been envious of, particularly as it was the Maroons who were offside or interfering with the play-the-ball 28 times in the opening thirty minutes of Origin I alone.
New South Wales noted this privately but had decided, in the spirit of good grace and sportsmanship, not to speak about it publicly. But then Smith started up with his claims that NSW were afforded undue leniency in the series opener.
“We just want consistency,” he said. “If they are going to defend like that then so be it. We’ll defend like that too.”
As carefully timed tactics go, it was a good one, if you’re a fan of that kind of thing. I’m not.
Clearly formulated by the Maroons in order to pressure the already on-edge referees and make sure they won the penalty count at Suncorp, the strategy worked.
A lot of dubious calls went their way and my left eye has been twitching angrily on and off ever since.
In addition to this, there was the prior incident where he had the nerve to say that Paul Gallen punching Nate Miles was a “bad look.”
Even aside from their pigs-at-the-trough salary cap rortings and subsequently ill-gotten premierships, the Storm have contributed more “bad looks” to the game than any small explosions of toe-to-toe violence ever have.
This is a team who have not subscribed to the notion that rules are supposed to apply to all players and teams equally for at least a decade.
Liberated from the shackles of ordinary behaviour, they have introduced us to a conga line of odious tactics. The chicken wing. The rolling pin. The grapple tackle. The crusher tackle. All “bad looks,” all originating in Melbourne.
I know I sound like any other malcontent burdened with jealousy, self-loathing, a possible chemical imbalance, and the considerable weight of being both a second-tier team fan and a Blues fan.
Be that as it may, I cannot repress the irritation, bordering on wild-eyed outrage, I experience when subjected to Smith’s messianic opinions, or witness to the sphinx-like concentration and laser-cut precision with which he plays.
It makes my eye seize and twitch in ugly little displays of short circuitry. I understand that this too is something Cameron Smith would no doubt classify a “bad look” and painful as this is to admit I’d have to agree with him.
Scott Capell
Guest
By the way I hate all the cheating sick NSW teams NSW........
Scott Capell
Guest
Sounds like the Pot calling the kettle black with all the chaats in the NRL . Lets not forget the NRL invented cheating with NRL refs and NRL refs in the video room favouring the NSW teams on every 50-50 call. In fact the NRL comp has by far the worst referees in the world. When we had neutral refs QLD won all of the games because they were refereed properly without bias towards QLD teams. So guess what--yes you guessed right they scrapped the neutral refs system.The English, French and Kiwi refs would do a far better job than the rubbish they dish up from the NRL panel ie sending off Brett Tait hor headbutting Merrin's fist. Please.... Messrs Smith, Slater and Greggy Inglis sing the Qld and Australian victory song long and proud on Wednesday night.......
Scott Capell
Guest
Extremwritet surely you are joking--I was waiting for you to burst into laughter--Cameron Smith is the band laeder or ringmaster who controls everything that happens on the field. With due respect bto Robbie Farrah he is a park footballer in comparison.There is no way you can compare the two. Cameron Smith is a Rugby League genius and is an inspirational leader where all players who play iunder him benefit from his experience and ability. I am not a Melbourne fan but surely you have to give credit where credit is due. Forget the southern NSW bias and stand up and cheer for a true master of the modern game. Lets hope that Robbie Farah can benefit from playing against him and maybe learn some of Smith's incredible skills.......
Stuart Maurice
Guest
I have to agree wholeheartedy with this rant. The way this teflon coated prima donna gets away with murder and the way the media dances to any tune he plays gets right up nose (and makes my eyes twitch). The only person who makes me madder is that allegedly 'clean' player billy slater. Btw, i hate melbourne :)
boofrulesthewor;d
Guest
smith, slater and bellamy are the biggest cheats the game has seen, bellamy has ruined the game with his tactics, smith mr dinner suit is a manipulator of refs and the game, slater, smith are grubs and koalas, QLD can win the origin i dont care but all qld teams and qlders sick second team storm wont win either, the pride, passion and spirit of the league will and anyone who doesnt agree can eat a bag!
XtremeWritet
Guest
I completely agree Cameron smith gets away with a lot if bad tactics...why us he noted as the greatest hooker in the game where a his life his played against the best players in the world....put someone like Robbie Farah in the Australian squad and then watch him shine...I said for many years Cameron smith is overrated. His a good player don't get me wrong but his not as good as Farah Thurston hayne who have the ability to change the game...
Maverick
Guest
Laughed out loud reading this article.. GO Smith and Queensland
Ex-pat Stephen Jones of Virginia USA
Guest
The "Pro" is defending the indefensible (E.Kite). An angry fan rant at Queensland winning (easily) masquerading as an opinion piece on the Australian Captain. If he offends you so much stop watching him play. He is expected to give honest answers when dealing with the press and he does. End of story. Both of you should grow up.
Slamo75
Guest
What a self indulgent piece. And nobody even bit :(
eagleJack
Guest
Yeah I'm sorry MC but planko is correct. Most have breached the 2nd tier salary cap after having to use players outside of their top 25 due to injury. Completely different kettle of fish. But I'm sure you know that.
planko
Guest
You deluded Meesta you cannot compare being forced to pay a 18 to 20 year the NRL minimum cause of injuries in your top squad. Compare that to brown papers of cash with multiple contracts please the 2 are not comparable.
Meesta Cool
Guest
Today's news release -- "Seven NRL Clubs fined for being 'over the salary cap", no mention of loss of premierships, premiership points, cheating, Rorting, just minimal fines!, regardless of how far over the cap they were found to be, they should receive the same punishment that was meted out to Storm. Confirms my thoughts that all clubs are having to cheat the cap to maintain the quality of their teams, now and in the past, ALL teams not just the ones caught. Guess it's my turn to scream CHEAT,CHEATS, X 7
Scott Capell
Guest
Go the QLD victory song---sing it long and proud on Wednesday night!!!!!!
Scott Capell
Guest
As for the QLD victory song I thought it has always been the Number 1 victory song whether for the MIGHTY QUEENSLANDERS or Australia.............
Pknutz
Guest
Hahaha you are too funny. We don't need to move we'll just extend the borders.
Pknutz
Guest
Amen to that budda!!!
Football_illiterate
Guest
PFFFT.. as the sound of your credibility evaporates..
Scott Capell
Guest
Go Elijah Weightman and of course Mr Smith...... a true champion!!!!!
Meesta Cool
Guest
Taking performance enhancing drugs . gives an advantage on the field of sport, paying a reasonable salary to p[layers you have developed is not in the same category.. The amount of money you pay a player does not affect his on field performance. sorry mate ,,, not the same at all. A team BUILT by Storm won all those games, I personally don't give a toss about whether they were rewarded for their efforts.. They won those championships competing against many teams that were also cheating. I have the proof.... I saw them win., with a team that grew together, without being bought/pirated or stolen from other teams. Not Cheats, just Champions rewarded for their efforts. Goodnight!.
Scott Capell
Guest
Super Eel22 surely you are kidding.....do you not understand that this is a professional and physical game where players strive for an advantage--I don't understand why you struggle with this concept..Do you really expect us to believe that Melbourne Storm and the Canterbury Bullldoigs are the only teams to breach the salary cap. Can you really expect us to believe that South Sydnay, Sydney Roosters and Manly are not currently abuising the salary cap. Just look at their array of overseas stars on 1 million dollars plus contracts ile SBW and honestly try and tell me they are falling under the salary cap so get real or fair dinkum and wake up to this vile and filthy southern bias by NSW offficials who are running the game of Rugby League in the NRL. Please do the math where 4 or 5 players in these teams are earning far more than the sallary cap allows for. That's right it smells like last weeks fish.....Go Melbourne Storm....hold your heads high you have nothing to be sorry for.....only being successful.....the rats and filth of the NRL will never take your premierships away...