Cameron Smith’s milestone is befitting of the player he is – the consistency and level at which he’s been able to ascertain throughout his career is nothing short of incredible.
His resume reaffirms that – four premierships, two World Cup wins and 11 State of Origin series wins – including five as captain. He’s been to the finals in all but two of his NRL seasons – the first in 2002 when he only played two games, and the second in the infamous 2010 season where the Storm were forced to play for no points.
Personally, he’s achieved as much as anyone – two time Dally M Medal winner, two time Golden Boot winner, seven time Dally M Hooker of the Year and four Wally Lewis Medal wins as the best player in a State Of Origin series.
All of this is a feat only The King himself Wally Lewis betters.
His personal achievements – albeit an unbelievable feat – only paint part of the picture. What impresses me more about Smith is his ability year on year, to stay at the top of his game and even climb to new heights in performance.
(Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
At 37 years of age, Smith is an elder statesman of the NRL – he should be winding down his career, if not already be retired. Yet each year we sit in awe at the fact that he continues to be the best and most influential player in the competition.
Other players noticeably slow down near the end of their careers. Even the stars of the game such as Johnathon Thurston and Greg Inglis struggled in their final seasons.
This is no slight on these two – they had injury problems and were getting older and their bodies were slowing down, which is usually the case. But I find it incredible the way Smith is still playing his best footy, even after 400 games.
The big three of Smith, Cronk and Slater is no longer, and it was long questioned whether Smith – or the other two – would be able to have the same impact without their partners in crime.
Last year they lost Cronk – their talismanic halfback – and still managed to make the grand final. In 2019 – with Slater retired – the Storm have continued their era of dominance, sitting on top of the ladder with three wins from their closest rivals.
This is in no small part because of the influence of Smith and the way he picks sides apart, leading his team to victory.
Against the Warriors this year, an out of sorts Melbourne side were nearly out of the game. In stepped Smith, who orchestrated the victory from number 9 and made sure the Storm came away with the two points. It was a game the Storm didn’t deserve to win, but the class and guile of Smith dragged them to victory.
In terms of the greats, we sometimes assess them in the way they’ve changed the game or their position. Slater is arguably the greatest fullback the game has ever seen, and the reason why is how he transformed the way number 1’s play.
Also think of Joey Johns and the way he could exploit a sides weakness that was never seen before. He could punish sides and would be aggressive in going at them, and he’s now regarded as the greatest number 7 of all time.
If that’s one of the measures for who’s the greatest, then Smith’s development of the hooker position is unrivalled.
The way Smith has evolved into the most influential player in the game is remarkable, especially from a position that many people thought was all about being a strong defender and providing good service.
His subtleties around the play of the ball are so discrete yet effective. He feigns to play one side – holding the ball out in two hands – and then cuts back on the opposite side of the ruck where he’s escaped the attention of the markers.
It’s such a brilliant play that allows his forwards to get over the advantage line and target defenders behind the ruck. It also takes so much pressure off of his playmakers as it buys them time – since the defence is so wary – they don’t shoot out to jam the halfbacks, as they know Smith is too smart and will hurt them.
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
I hear Matty Johns – one of the best footballing brains around – talk a lot about playing across the field with the football instead of playing shape to one side and then taking a settler back in, as it doesn’t allow the defence to reset and get all their numbers and spacing right.
This is something Smith has revolutionised with the game. He will jump into first receiver when a play has gone wide, and will then play onto his other half at the other side of the pitch. It’s something most hookers do now as it means their halfback doesn’t have to shoot back around to be there, and it’s a play Smith has instigated.
Probably the most impressive thing about Smith and his career to me, is that he’s managed to do all of this from the toughest position in the game. He regularly makes over 50 tackles a match – in the 2016 NRL grand final he made 67. He then has to get to pretty much every play of the ball, and has the added responsibility to run when he sees the opportunity – doing this is for 80 minutes a game.
The longevity he’s been able to maintain is testament to the work ethic and accountability he has had for his body and recovery.
400 games is an amazing achievement, but the level and quality he’s played at in each of those 400 – and the other 102 representative games – is something we haven’t seen before in the game.
Whatever your opinions are on Smith, what’s undeniable is his stature that he holds in the game – and rightfully so.
bbt
Guest
I was around when Simms was kicking all those field goals and it was argued it was not in the spirit of the game. It was turning RL into touch football.
Ken
Guest
Spirit of the game lol , mate I watched league in the 70’s an played in the 80 -90’s you know when dropping a forearm into a tackle players throat was normal , raised forearms to the throat when you did a hit up was normal , cheap shotting guys from behind cus there was no video ref in those days was normal , racially abusing aboriginal An kiwi players was normal , Olsen Filipina recalls being called a “ black c..t” regularly in the winfield cup an also by a so called great Australian captain during a test game , “ What’s this “ spirit of the game “ rubbish from Krilich who played in that era l someone enlighten me .
Paul
Roar Guru
hi Adam, I read on a regular basis about Smith's peerless passing but I've seen him throw some absolute shockers in recent seasons. There was game recently where he managed to lose his team 30 metres by missing the intended receiver. He throws a lot of passes in a game so some are going to go astray, but I'm not convinced he's as good as you suggest, certainly not at this stage of his career.
Paul
Roar Guru
The record books suggest otherwise.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
As I said, funny how things work out sometimes. The raw figures don't give the whole story , do they?
Peter Piper
Guest
No its because 1. With the Sharks the transgression gets investigated properly 2. With the sharks any punishment is minuscule, therefore they would never have a premiership stripped such as in 2016 when they were over the cap and had a team put together by an illegal coach. 3. Any punishments that are metered out to the sharks are incredibly soft such as back dated bans so that no player actually loses any game time when according to WADA they should all have been banned for 3 years, ignoring the fact that they were over the cap in 2016 and stating that the premiership should stand because they were cap compliant on Grand Final day. The Storm might have cheated by more (but we don't know that because it wasn't properly investigated) but it was 1 transgression in 20 years not Drugs, Cap, Illegal Coach etc
Magic Mike
Roar Rookie
Did keary play state of origin and if so how many serious has he won? 0 and zero!
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Smith has won two titles whether you like it or not. It's a bit like a Shark's supporter who used to carry on about Minor premierships meaning more than real titles. You're only fooling yourself by playing with words.
CTSTORM
Guest
Smith has won four grand finals whether you like it or not
CTSTORM
Guest
CAM SMITH the GREATEST OF ALL TIME.
Clanger McClunk
Guest
Well, Jockstrap, that was about the silliest post I've seen on this forum. To say he is a cheat amongst other "titles" you have given him, is a slight on referees and other match officials. If Cameron Smith is what you say he is, then most if not all referees will be demoted forthwith for allowing his dastardly misdemeanours to happen. Now, if all those first grade refs are dropped, who will replace them...........reserve graders?? To say he should be removed from the game is, most probably, a statement made after a few beers when the brain is a little disfunctional. From what we have witnessed over Cameron's career he does indeed have many friends in Rugby League and I would venture to say he has a few more than you and me. As for being a grub, I know very little about larvae so you have me there. Just relax mate and appreciate that you have seen the career of one of Rugby League's greatest players.
Jockstar
Guest
This comment has been removed for breaching The Roar's comments policy.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
" if this were true then who’s fault would it be ?" Illegal play, poor behavior and playing NOT in the spirit of the game is ALWAYS the PLAYER'S FAULT! If you weren't a Melbourne Storm supporter and Adam wasn't a "QLD Cyclops" then you both both not argue in defence of cynical play that is a refined form of cheating to gsin an advantage. Smith has built a career on it. "The refs should ensure that anything Smith does is within the rules." That is a fair point and a true statement Adam. Unfortunately, QLD politics has had the upper hand over the NRL since QLDer John Ribot and Wayne Bennett lead the Broncos to first jump ship to Super League. That fact, together with the fact that the Melbourne Storm were a creation of News Ltd (aka FOX Sports), one of the biggest financial benefactors to the NRL, has meant that the referees and the NRL have always been afraid of standing up to the Melbourne Storm or QLD when the future of a national competition depends on their continued involvement, cooperation and compliance.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
But Eric Sims kicking field goals was IN the spirit of the game not AGAINST the spirit of the game as Max Krilich has said. Just like arguing with the refs in order to keep your two players who have just committed a dangerous illegal tackle on the field while a player lies paralysed at your feet and you show no concern whatsoever is "a ‘disgrace’ and ‘not in the spirit of the game’", to quote Max Krilich.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
If Keary wins with the Chooks this year he will have more titles than Smith or Thurston and he has played a lot fewer games , funny how things work out sometimes. I wonder what Smith would have commanded on the open market a few years back? $1.5 is my guess to someone like the Titans.
Peter Piper
Guest
..... and even if this were true then who's fault would it be ? Smith or the refs who are supposed to be controlling the game ? As a player, Smith does and should do everything in his power to gain an advantage for his team. The refs should ensure that anything Smith does is within the rules. That is it - pure and simple.
Adam
Roar Guru
Won't the Churchill go to Billy?
Adam
Roar Guru
Cool a former Manly player has something to complain about the week that Storm play Manly.... I remember reading that article and thinking what "spirit" is this guy on about? Is that the spirit where players are meant to yell at the referees? Get in their faces?
The Barry
Roar Guru
I’ve written this here before, but to me the mark of quality for a good hooker is their first movements out of dummy half, whether it’s a step, a pass, a dummy, etc That first movement can either set the running forwards up to be running at the defensive line with space or getting belted by the markers. I’ve never seen anyone do it as consistently well as Smith. How many forwards look washed up and then have a lease of life playing outside him? How many look world beaters playing with the Storm and then struggle when they chase the big money? His decision making is peerless. How often does he go the wrong way, or run when he should have passed or kick when he should have run, etc. rarely ever puts a foot wrong. Smith has never been the biggest or the fastest or the strongest but he could certainly make a very good case for being the smartest. And as a relatively little bloke who’s played over 500 games at elite level (56 tests and 42 Origins on top of 400+ club games) always in the middle, almost always for 80 minutes he could lay claim to being among the toughest too. Definitely only two premierships though.
John
Guest
"So much so that several changes have been made in the rules to counteract Smith’s gamesmanship and manipulation of referees. Namely, the 40 second shot clock for goal line restarts, calling time off in the last 5 mins of a game and curtailing the timing and frequency that captains can approach referees to protest a decision or to seek clarification on a referee’s call. This has not happened since 1970 when field goals were changed from being worth 2 points to just 1 point because Eric Simms was so proficient at kicking them to keep the scoreboard ticking over." That summary of rules changes you posted pretty much highlights how influential he has been to the game, be it negative or positive. Adding in the last time a player has effected a rules change only further adds to his impact to the game.