Melbourne will not stand in the way of Cameron Smith if the Storm captain wants to make a comeback to the State of Origin arena, coach Craig Bellamy says.
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy says captain Cameron Smith is playing well enough for a State of Origin recall if he were to make himself available.
There’s been growing speculation that Queensland great Smith may be asked to come out of representative retirement
with the Maroons heavily hit by key injuries.
Bellamy says Smith has not approached him about it and doubts he would want to play but the club would give their blessing if he wanted to answer an Origin SOS call.
“If Cameron wanted to play Origin again, he’d do so with my blessing and I imagine the club would feel the same,” Bellamy said on Thursday.
“With what he’s done for our club and the game in general if that’s what he wanted to do I wouldn’t stand in his way.”
Bellamy, who coached NSW for three years between 2008-2010, said if he was Queensland coach Kevin Walters he’d be doing all he could to persuade Smith to return.
The Maroons have lost a swag of stars such as Smith, Cooper Cronk, Johnathan Thurston and Greg Inglis to retirement and Valentine Holmes to the NFL, while their first choice halfback Daly Cherry-Evans is in doubt through injury.
“If I was Kevvie I’d be really keen for him to be playing,” Bellamy said.
“Over two series they’ve lost a lot of key position players so there’s been a heap of changes to their team so to get some stability back in there would be a good thing for them.”
The 35-year-old hooker was key in Melbourne’s one-point win over the Warriors last round and Bellamy said he’d consistently been among their top performers all season.
But he didn’t see the former Australian skipper returning to the representative stage.
“I think he’s playing well enough to play Origin without a doubt,” Bellamy said.
“I’m not quite sure he’d want to go back and play after making that break last year.
“I couldn’t see him doing it but stranger things have happened in our game.”
Clanger McClunk
Guest
Smith confirmed this afternoon that he won't play. He said his time is over in SOO, time for the next generation to step up. Despite this confirmation from the man himself I have no doubt the ever vigilant reporter Phil Rothfield will say Smith WILL play because he has "inside mail."
db
Guest
Langer should be fit because he spends more time on the field than most players.
max power
Guest
"Beating NSW will be Kevvies main objective so don’t be surprised if Smith does play." i am guessing beating NSw was not his objective last year and thats why Smith didnt play?
Big Daddy
Guest
Forgot about Morgan. Probably him instead.
Rob
Guest
Are Qlders seriously still happy with Chambers getting a start? He has been rubbish ever since Mitchell ruined him last year.
Big Daddy
Guest
Beating NSW will be Kevvies main objective so don't be surprised if Smith does play. Losing Cronk, Thurston, Inglis and Slater and now DCE will be just about enough to make him play this year. At this stage I would select, Ponga Oates Gagai Chalmers Boyd/Feldt Munster Hunt McGuire Gillett Cooper Scott Smith Wallace Arrow Lowe Hess Norman
Emcie
Roar Guru
Ahh, the old "someone with no say in the matter doesn't say it wont happen" story
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
...and then what? What happens next year? Just let him retire in peace. QLD are allowed to lose while rebuilding.
Paul
Roar Guru
Smith's direct replacement McCulloch isn't injured, just out of form. Maybe Alfie could come back as cover for DCE. The little fella still looks fit enough to go all right.