I’ve been noticing it all year in Melbourne Storm’s NRL games. I guess fear of reprisal has held me from writing about it until now.
Here goes. The Australian, Queensland and Melbourne Storm captain has gone soft. Yep that’s right I said it.
Of all the magical attributes that Cameron Smith brings to a rugby league side, his darting, penetrating runs from dummy half are what really make the difference in any side he plays in.
Where have they gone?
The Melbourne Storm have struggled this year on the back of a number of factors. But it has to be said that Cameron Smith’s penetration from the base of the ruck has almost been non-existent this year. It’s like we’re watching a halfback come in at dummy half in almost every match he’s played in all year.
It seems like Smith is only capable of a dummy half run when the defence is on the back foot, or offside and the milking of a penalty is on offer.
All the hype over Queensland picking only one genuine prop caused a lot of talk this week. The explanation was that the speed of the game under the new rules afforded the selection of a more mobile forward pack.
This scenario should have been prime for the taking of a hooker of Cameron Smith’s class and reputation.
Yet what we saw tonight was a hooker that came to the ruck and thought his whole job was to deliver quality ball for the first receiver.
His injury aside, the Queensland captain has to set the example and we saw nothing from him in attack before he went down. Ageing backs like Justin Hodges were quite willing to come in and do the hard yards to relieve pressure from the forwards.
With the series on the line, Queenslanders will be expecting big things from him in three weeks in Sydney. If tonight is all Smith has to offer, then Big Mal really needs to think about Ben Hannant coming into the side to provide go forward.
It wasn’t all that long ago a hooker at the Broncos who had played more than 100 games was under pressure to retain his spot, with Brisbane attempting to lure Smith there.
Andrew McCullough has been in cracking form for the Broncos since then. Another performance like tonight and the Queensland captain may start to feel the pressure from the 24-year-old come Origin 2015.
bbt
Guest
Spot on!
luke
Guest
Just want to get your thoughts on how soft cam smith is now after he backed up after origin for the storm and still made almost 60 tackles on 1 leg
Slain
Guest
I would have thought having a X Factor - Segeyaro in there would be great!
KB
Guest
Tim, it would be better if you knew what you were talking about son..
Gary Magpie
Roar Guru
Hayne, like so many others, is potential lost... Everybody sees that he could be great and everyone is wanting - or waiting - for him explode. But he rarely does. He is well suited to the Eels in that regard...
Jackson Henry
Guest
Interestingly, I also remember something about Bellamy holding off on Smith for the Storm captaincy because he wasn’t ‘urgent’ enough, for lack of a better term. Like he wouldn’t be late to the team bus, for example, but he would be the last one on it with a minute to spare or something like that…and even then he’d be laughing and joking around with everyone. Probably says more about Bellamy than anything else, but I still wonder if this has something to do with those numbers I mentioned earlier.
Jackson Henry
Guest
Key word being "potentially". I agree with you in spades - he has the ability and skill set to be greater than the lot of them. Let's see if he's up to it mentally.
Jackson Henry
Guest
Yeah, obviously, I just dunno why the rocks and diamonds players get all the wraps from those in the media...who unfortunately influence a lot of the debate over who the real greats are. The two first players I'd pick for my team would be Smith and Cronk (then Thurston and Hayne) because they're consistent, error-free and perform well under pressure. And they're winners.
Bill Larkin
Guest
Okay, how about having a crack at explaining how Smith has fooled all the selectors, award judges, sports journalists and (most) league fans for all these years. I mean, if Farah is such a clearly superior player, we are talking about a conspiracy that would put Watergate in the shade. Alternatively, you are a one-eyed Tigers supporter and poor judge of rugby league.
Dav
Guest
Bit bitter there Soap. I think Inglis has a better idea of where he is from making plenty of money in a successful carer compared ourselves being keyboard warriors, Inglis had a choice and he chose, it states in history recorded that NSW said they didn't want him. QLD could as the rule was on the day, asked and did. It is not Inglis or QLD fault. But alas as a blue always put the blame on someone else and cry about it. You didn't get him, you lost, don't cry about it, not really the origin way is it, well not for QLDers it an't.
Dav
Guest
Yep, we got 2 cents worth there!
Dav
Guest
You just need to understand the type of players they are. Thurston is opportunistic, plays his hand, more random, dose't mind trying lower percentage plays because of his natural football instincts, this is what makes him so dangerous (the kings of these types of players in recent history are the likes of Benji Marshell & Matty Bowen). You see when Benji has a bad run he can have a shocker & sometimes Bowen could do the same. When their game is off it looks bad. We kind of saw where Thurston was at on the night because of the missed kicks. Where as Cronk is calculated, planned, higher percentage player like Lockyer. This is why QLD has been able to continue its success the combinations of Lockyer/Thurston to Thurston/Cronk. The loss of Cronk within 10 min into the game is a momentous shift which QLD could not overcome. Cam smith tackle leader with 44, Chris Love to run at Cam Smith one on one, Chris Love is the weakest link, goodbye!
Mac
Guest
I wouldn't be prepared to write someone like Cameron Smith off but his stats for QLD last night were 1 hit up for a total of 2 metres gained..
Christian D'Aloia
Roar Guru
Hayne is a fantastic player, but I don't think he can be called a future immortal simply because he's not quite consistent enough.
Jo
Guest
Friend is in the actual origin squad. 18th or 19th man. And he could possibly be wearing 14 next game with Cronk out. Though I would go with a 4 forward bench
Jo
Guest
Jesus can everyone shut up about McCullough he is not going to be playing origin any time soon. It has been well established that at best he is third on the list for mal. Behind Smith and Friend. And though probably above ballin that guy has got in there and got it done for us. McCullough is not playing any time soon. Possibly ever. And for good reason. Friend is a LOT better.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Some comments here knocking Smith and JT. Both would have been badly put out losing Cronk so early in the piece. DCE is good but it isn't the same as standing outside Cronk. This will come. The backline was disjointed but to lose a ke player like Cronk will do this. I was disappointed with Hodges. Too many silly mistakes and stupid penalties.I wonder, too, what Boyd was doing. Twice in the first half he was nowhere to be seen when NSW kicked to his wing. Both times forcing a scrum deep in the Maroons half. On both occasions being back to fields the ball could have seen the tackle count start much further up field.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Love it.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Agree. Cronk has played every minute so the likelihood of DCE replacing him at half was remote so why have him run there. If he's fit he'll get the full training period at half.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
If he needs to buy space for his forwards to get ready for the next run, yes.