The burning question following league legend Cameron Smith’s retirement from rep football is who will referee Origin 1?
Not only has Smith been one of the greatest players of the 13-man code, but the way he’s handled the whistleblowers has made him the complete footballer.
When the faithful talk rugby league in the future, Smith will be mentioned in the same breath as Graeme Langlands, Reg Gasnier, Wally Lewis, and Johnathan Thurston.
It’s not only his crystal-clear passion for the game, but his incredible ability to play off the top shelf every time he strapped on his boots.
And that’s a lot of strapping. Try 59 Kangaroo caps, 42 Origin, and 368 NRL games for the Storm and rising – the vast majority of them as captain.
To put those stats in perspective for Smith, who turns 35 next month:
Most Kangaroo caps
59 – Darren Lockyer
56 – Cameron Smith
46 – Mal Meninga
45 – Graeme Langlands
45 – Petero Civoniceva
Most Origins
42 – Cameron Smith
37 – Johnathon Thurston
36 – Allan Langer
34 – Darren Lockyer
33 – Petero Civoniceva
Most club
368 – Cameron Smith
355 – Darren Lockyer
350 – Terry Lamb
349 – Steve Menzies
347 – Corey Parker
Most NRL points
2418 – Hazem El Masri
2267 – Cameron Smith
2176 – Andrew Johns
2114 – Johnathan Thurston
2107 – Jason Taylor
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But those amazing stats don’t tell the whole story.
Smith was adamant in the people he thanked at the packed media conference.
“Ricky Stuart, Mal Meninga, and Craig Bellamy for their coaching, and especially my family for the way they have supported me, despite the many days I was never at home,” he said.
“Now it’s time to give back to them, I’ve missed far too my of my kids’ school and sporting functions.
“But the writing was on the wall after the last Origin series.
“I found that series far more taxing than any of the others because I was too exhausted both mentally and physically to play for the Storm, despite the four-day turnaround.
“That was never the case before, I always wanted to back up, but couldn’t last year.”
Smith admits he’s a terrible spectator, but he’ll get used to it – he has the rest of his life to do so, with his family beside him. And no doubt he’ll join the battalion of high-quality presenters in the Fox box before long.
But he leaves a huge hole on the field that will be impossible to replace at Test and Origin level. And it sure gives NSW a lift as they set out to stop the Origin rot, with Brad Fittler at the helm.
Ray Paks
Roar Rookie
Not you again! They were lucky Jarryd Hayne didn't pass to Morris, that try would have sealed a NSW series win. Qld only managed to scrape through courtesy of a JT sideline conversion. Game 3, Cronk was there, if he played on it would've been the first time without either player after they made their origin debuts. refer to people he's never met as dogs ? Nat, seriously! you seem very emotional today..
Nat
Roar Guru
You agree with a salty toss Ray? He lead a team with 7 SOO debutantes to a series win last year. "Lucky" in game 2? Explain G3 without JT. You can make a better argument yourself rather than acknowledging a t.r.o .l.l who refers to people he's never met as dogs?
Ray Paks
Roar Rookie
I agree! in past campaigns he had the body to do it and he did it (with JT and Cronk there), came out a winner most of the time. This year, he kind of knew they were lucky to have JT (and cronk) in that second game last year to have a hand in that upset victory. Seeing that those blokes are no longer there and he is struggling at club land, the chances of falling short have significantly increased..
paul j
Guest
Cameron Smith just knew how to communicate with referees to get their respect. Treated them with respect rather than yelling and raving at them like most captains. This got him far better treatment from refs because he deserved it. Other players should learn from that and maybe your team will get better responses from referees. He's been a good player, gracious in defeat, probably done some stuff on a footballl field that he shouldn't have, he is only a footballer after all
Dan
Guest
Lockyer has 36 Origins and Langer 34. You have the other way around.
Don
Roar Rookie
Yep If anyone watched NRL360 last night Mal Meninga’s interview gave a good insight into the change in Cameron Smith over the last year. He was a very different person to the one that had been in Kangaroo camps previously.
Joe
Roar Rookie
I don't think Bellamy would ever ask a player to give up rep duties for club. I think the decision had been made some time back and he was just seeing how he felt after a couple of games in case he changed his mind. Definitely nothing to do with the suspension as he informed Walters after the Titans game before he was charged and you'd think he would have already made up his mind way before that and the game in Qld was the opportunity for him to let Kevvie know face-to-face. Walters himself said he had the suspicion earlier in the year when Smith wasn't his usual enthusiastic self when they met for Origin planning so I suspect it was playing on his mind after last years series where he was buggered and it showed in missing post Origin games. He looked fatigued for a few games after. His start to this year hasn't been too good either and that probably confirmed it for him.
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
That's a bit rough. Cam Smith is a lot of thing and legend is actually one of them. If you have ever listened to any speech he has given on the podium (win or lose) he is always gracious. He deserved to go out a winner and the series will be a bit different without him. To suggest he is ducking this in case he might lose is ludicrous. Maybe he just knows he can't give it his all and is one of the rare few players who knows his time is up. Thanks for all those years of heartache Cam, you deserve the rest.
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
You mean the suspension for the illegal tackle that injured someone? You're so right, they're just out to get him because the judiciary are Storm haters.
Roger
Guest
At least it gives them something to do other than plucking belly button lint out.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Well the Smith haters are out in force today
Greg
Guest
Origin is going to be dramatically different this year going from three refs back to two
Jason Andrews
Roar Pro
I agree, sometimes the BS in life, stops you from making true achievement
Peter Phelps
Guest
Agree Sorry to see him go, pleased to see him focus on Melbourne Storm.
Peter Phelps
Guest
I agree, I think Smith and the Storm have had a lot to "put up with" this season with the latest suspension being one of them. Maybe he has just "Had Enough" of the latest BS coming from our administrators.
Simon
Guest
He changed the Origin series last year when he started running from dummy half. Unbelievable to think he won’t be playing this year. Few players have a claim to be clearly the greatest player ever in their position but I think you could give Cam that honour
Yawn
Guest
He retired because he didn't want to go out in a losing team. True legend.
Jason Andrews
Roar Pro
It is really sad that Smith, is giving it away for this series., I would of love to see him play one more series as I have never seen him play for QLD live. There a lot more to this story then is being let on. I feel that with the retirements of Cronk and JT at rep level that Smith and Slater would not be even to carry the team to victory and with the Storm not doing so well this year Bellamy probably wanted him to focus on his club career to try to go for back to back premierships
David Lord
Expert
For some unfathomable reason, editorial deleted Johnny Raper and Ken Irvine from my list of legends Cameron Smith will join. This restores their rightful place.