Week 3 of finals is upon us.
Four great teams stand tall with a chance to win it all. The Canberra Raiders, the Penrith Panthers, the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Melbourne Storm.
The latter are led by their skipper Cameron Smith, who is on the verge of announcing his impending retirement after almost 20 years in the Storm jumper. In what may go down as the greatest NRL career ever, Smith has done it all besides winning the best on-field honour on a grand final – the only physical award that has eluded him.
My thoughts are if the Storm make the grand final and Smith sets himself up to win that award if the Storm were successful, the biggest achievement will not just be winning the Clive Churchill Medal.
Without his sidekicks, Billy Slater (arguably the greatest fullback to ever play the game) and Cooper Cronk (arguably a top-three halfback of all-time), Smith has had one (this is his second) season to prove his worth, finishing at a preliminary final last year at the hand of Cronk and his new teammates.
If Smith is able to lead his side to a possible grand final and then a possible grand final win without Slater and Cronk, will that be his greatest achievement?
Let’s break it down a little here.
(Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
When they had the formidable big three, the Storm were considered unbeatable at times. Although they did not win it all when they were together, people always asked who the most important member of the three was?.
Smith seemed to be the leader of it all, Slater seemed to be the finesse component and Cronk was the brains that executed it.
When Cronk left after 2017, Slater and Smith still made it to the grand final in 2018 to play against their old mate. Losing that grand final, it was thought that Cronk may have been the key component.
In 2019, Smith led his side to a dominant regular season and then went down again to Cronk’s new friends at Bondi, thus strengthening the argument Cronk was the key figure.
There is no Cronk in 2020 as his side has been eliminated, which has left Smith alone to make the run on his own. Performing fairly consistently, he has his side on par for a strong run but a formidable Canberra side stand in front of them this weekend.
If the Storm make it past this week, it will leave Smith at a crossroads. No Cronk, no Slater, a bunch of young players and the same system.
If Smith can pull a premiership without them both, I do think it will be his greatest achievement. Will it prove who the key member of the three was? Probably not (as Cronk went to possibly a better roster than the Storm had), but nevertheless, to win without those guys, especially in the circumstances of this year, will prove something huge for Smith.
It’s fitting that if he chooses to retire a premiership, a Clive Churchill Medal and possibly the achievement of winning one alone could be on the cards for the GOAT.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Smith has been helped in his career by playing alongside greats like Cronk, Inglis, Slater et al, helped by a traditionally massive Storm forward pack and fast back line, I wonder if he’d have half the accolades if he had played 14 seasons at the Bulldogs or Titans or a lesser club.
Monorchid
Roar Rookie
Thanks for a good article Willie. I’ve just had a look at Smith’s career statistics on the Storm’s web site. I’ve got no arguments with your views about what could constitute his greatest achievement. But the thing that struck me isn’t just the length of his career, number of try assists, and his goal conversion rate, but his durability. Given the toughness of the game and the high chance of injury, he’s managed to play more than 20 games every year between 2003 and 2019 (I’ve ignored 2002 and this year). And he played the most games in a season (27) last year near the end of his career. Smith isn’t big by today’s standards, but the bloke is indestructible. Now that’s an achievement.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
I’d have Cronk at 4.
Sammy
Guest
Top 20 Halfbacks: 1. Andrew Johns 2. Johnathon Thurston (also played 5/8) 3. Peter Sterling 4. Ricky Stuart 5. Alan Langer 6. Cooper Cronk 7. Steve Mortimer 8. Brett Kimorley 9. Des Hasler 10. Greg Alexander 11. Gary Freeman 12. Stacey Jones 13. Jason Taylor 14. Geoff Toovey 15. Phil Blake (also played 5/8) 16. Kevin Hastings 17. Paul Green 18. Steve Morris 19. Matt Orford & Scott Prince & Adrian Lam 20. Preston Campbell & Craig Gower & Daly Cherry-Evans
Chris
Roar Pro
I think his best moment- if it counts- is the 2017 season. Captained club to a premiership, state to a home series win and country to a World Cup in the same season as playing 350 games and breaking about a dozen longstanding league records. But this may be his biggest achievement if it happens. 2012 will always feel bittersweet as a return to the top of the mountain and 2017 a statement. But this will be without his two generals and a younger team and I think it will mean more to him.
Walter Black
Guest
Its hard to compare players particularly over time but one thing is for sure, Cronk was deceptively good. A top 3 halfback ?, possibly not but he wouldn't be far away.
Nat
Roar Rookie
I think Cam has proved who the key in Melbourne was - many times over. If he can get the Storm to the final, he's got to be a roaring chance to get the gong. Last game (for Melbourne) and all.
elvis
Roar Rookie
Cronk a top 3 halfback of all time? Not a chance.