Few players are as untouchable as Cameron Smith in the eyes of the media.
If there’s any consensus within the NRL, it’s that Smith is one of the competition’s flagship players.
Even more so than Johnathan Thurston, Smith often feels like the spokesman for the game at both a national and international level.
Yet like all icons, Smith also has his haters.
To some extent, the opinions of those haters are kneejerk reactions.
They’re also a response to the style of football played by the Storm, which is often conflated with Smith’s own on-field personality.
At the same time, however, there is something to be said for the scepticism.
Take this year’s grand final as a case in point.
After the game, I could have predicted the way things went the next day.
For every pundit who congratulated the Sharks, there was another claiming that Smith’s class in defeat was the real highlight of the night.
Sure enough, the plaudits for Smith almost seemed to outweigh the plaudits for the entire Cronulla team.
Many of those accolades centred on Smith’s perceived “class”.
Nearly everywhere I looked – on Twitter, Facebook, and in the wider media – people were waxing lyrical about his gentlemanly and gracious acceptance of defeat.
No doubt, Smith is well-spoken, and that can be a rare asset in the NRL.
But does being well-spoken make you a good sport?
Jarrod Croker might have developed a different perspective on that after the preliminary finals.
Why, then, is Smith perceived as a gentlemanly player in so many circles?
To some extent, it must come down to his relatively restrained manner on the field, combined with the self-discipline that inevitably arises from working with both the Storm and the Maroons.
However, it is also a result of Smith’s perceived normality.
Once upon a time, the NRL was full of your typical “blokes-next-door”.
In an age in which the game has become increasingly international, there may be something comforting to fans about Smith’s iconic “accountant” face, as well as the way he manages to use it to conceal and control his passions during the game.
It may also be that as scandal becomes more and more endemic to rugby league, there is something consoling to fans about Smith’s ability to present himself in a clean-cut and professional manner, especially during his public appearances.
Additionally, Smith’s tenure with the Storm makes him an icon for longevity.
In an NRL era with frequent player movement, Smith is that rare thing – a one-club player.
Along with his contribution to the Queensland dynasty, this makes him a throwback to a less precarious time in Rugby League.
As an object of nostalgia, then, Smith makes more sense.
But as the game’s most gentlemanly and classy player? I just don’t get it.
The Fatman
Guest
He is intelligent. Something that is in short supply in the NRL.
bob johnson
Guest
*cough* Salty *cough*
League Fan
Guest
McCracken and McKinnon both received unfortunate injuries while playing against the Storm. While I'll credit them with wrestling tactics, I haven't seen enough evidence to suggest that Spear Tackles were something the Coach instructed them to do. Like the spelling of their names in your post, I'd say their accidents were the result of sloppy technique / carelessness and not deliberate intent.
League Fan
Guest
If I recall correctly it was Parramatta vs Melbourne in 2010 (the year they couldn't earn points because of certain players receiving brown envelopes. The conversation as recalled by a poster on some other forums (I couldn't be bothered doing all the work for you) went a little like this. Archer: "You guys have got a lot to play for at this time of the year ..." Smith: "We have nothing to play for, mate." Archer: "You blokes have a lot to lose by doing something silly in this game." Smith: "We have nothing to lose, we have nothing to play for, this is the way we gotta play mate." Archer: "If that's the attitude you want to take ... just play the game." Smith: "It's the attitude we got to take mate." Archer: "Just play the game ... JUST PLAY THE GAME." The players that played on for the club, fans and their teammates deserve some respect... those that whinged about it to a ref or took extra money that cost the club, fans and their "teammates"... don't.
Craig
Guest
What are you talking about? The storm deserve a lot of respect for that year, the effort they put in when playing for 0 points for phenomenal.
League Fan
Guest
He lost my respect when (as a player who was front and centre in the cheating saga) he had the sook... "What have we got to play for?" Screw the club, the fans... your teammates. Just have a cry because you can't earn points due to a BIG 3 or 4 players... players who took more than they deserved and as a result, lost the club, it's fans and their teammates even more. By the time the McKinnon incident happened, I wasn't surprised that he'd argue a penalty when a player was in a dire state nearby. He can play, but he's not that great of a guy on the field. Weak attempts to validate a point of view with "if he was on your team" or "just because he's a Qld'er" do nothing to negate facts.
League Fan
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Try sitting in the Crowd at Bruce Stadium. Some of those fans are the most disrespectful you'll find. Members of this supporter base put a banner on a Canberra Overpass reminding the Sharks and their fans of their lack of Grand Final wins. Ennis' clap and the Grand Final win were just Karma biting them in the rear-end. To my understanding the clap was all of 4 games old and is hardly a tradition as others would claim. Newsflash, players and fans have been clapping their hands above their heads for a very long time... Canberra doesn't hold the rights to it and Ennis had every right to do what he did. Harden up.
Craig
Guest
Smiths grand final speech was pretty classy, if you can't see that then your eyes must be painted on. Some speeches, press conferences by other players are bland, scripted and spoken with the eloquence of someone with a high school education. Smith is well spoken, funny and comes across as genuinely decent - something most footy players can't do. He should be respected for that. I think he will make a great coach and/or his incite would be valuable in eventually replacing someone like Fitler in the media. The disgraceful 60 mins story regarding Alex Mckinnon and the reporting about Smith was an embarrassment to channel 9. If anything, once the grubbiness of the reporting was made, it strengthened Smiths image IMO. If you're too stupid to see the stitch up job that was done on him, then you're probably holding some sort of bias against Smith (probably state-based). He's far less dirty than most players in the game. If he wasn't Cameron Smith, you wouldn't even notice the 'grubby' things he does on the field. I note the praise for Gallen many of the comments in this section. Wait a minute, the bloke who speaks like a buffoon, who was charged with "picking at someones stitches" (people are criticising Smith for directing traffic at Croker?", racially vilified someone and eye gouged. Wait, and Smith is the grub?
Aem
Guest
When you cop as much rubbish from that group of fans throughout a match as he did (and let's be honest - he copped a lot of abuse, as every gruuby and/or very talented player does in Canberra... their supporters are among the worst in the NRL for it), I think a little leeway is allowed to give some back. If he had given them the middle finger, I'd have a problem. Instead he just repeated 'their' clap. Harmless fun being picked over by people with nothing better to whinge about.
Emric
Guest
Smith made some terrible comments when McKinnon was obviously seriously injured which nearly everyone just airbrushes. He is no Saint but speaks well in a desert of competition.
Reesy
Guest
Who the hell wants to hear a losing captain get up and thank his sponsors? Could there be anything more boring. Pleeeeese...
correct sometimes
Guest
i dont think they failed
Sam
Guest
Untrue. In a recent News Ltd poll Cam Smith was voted as the most hated player in the NRL. Other players like JT and Inglis，who have also been kicking NSW butts for a long time，didn't register a single vote.
We've got a live one
Guest
And that just proves my earlier reply to Will's other post, that he judges players based on emotion rather then their actions. Gotta love a good smackdown.
We've got a live one
Guest
If you really want to nit pick. "We had just won the Premiership and just wanted to hear Gal talk and his speech was way better. Gal didn’t mumble, he yelled passionately." You just won the premiership? so which player were you?
We've got a live one
Guest
No, they're the same for all players. Applied to all players in an consistent manner across the whole competition. And keeping this in mind, when it come actual infringements, eg like being put on report. he's nowhere near the top of the list. But feel free to apply your subjective standards all you want, it means nothing in the end and just brings to the fore the irrational bitterness his detractors seem harbor. And if he gets under your skin this much, I could only imagine how riled up you would if he really was as bad as you say he is.
We've got a live one
Guest
The thing is Will, if he was doing these things while playing and winning for NSW or your NRL side, you would be singing his praises from the top of the hill. Its not a case that you don't like him as player for the reasons given, it's that you don't like him because he's not on your side most of the time. And if he was such a blight of the game, we both know that the NRL would have done something about it a long time ago. Sure, you may not like him as a player, you're free to, but please don't tell porkies on why this is so.
Greg
Guest
Smith spoke for almost 2 mins，it would have taken him about 5 seconds to thank the sponsors and support staff....players who receive weekly man of the match awards speak for about 30 seconds but still find time to thank sponsors....
John Hamblin
Guest
The Storms illegal tacking put Jarrod MacKraren and Alex Mackinnon out of the game . Imagine Bella che tirrade if that happened to Smith or Cronk??
Albo
Guest
"You are obviously too young to know about the great 90’s era" Oh Please, Christian ! I stood on beer cans beside my old man at the 1965 Test Match at the SCG to see a young Artie Beetson put Johnny King away in the corner for a winning try against the poms . I was at Penrith Park in 1967 to see the newly promoted Panthers smash the all conquering St George Dragons coming off 11 straight premierships. I was at the 1969 Grand Final to see the biggest upset in GF history. I have been to State of Origin matches at Lang Park sitting next to the "pig pen" for many years . I was at the 1990 & 1991 grand finals to see the Panthers finally come of age. I have seen plenty of era's of great football, and let me tell you the great football of the 90's era is no better than the great football of the 60 's , 70's , 80's or of today. Its all relative to the times. And the past decade has belonged to the great players like Smith & Cronk & Thurston and the clubs & state they represent. It is ridiculous to begrudge their ability and success.