Storm rallies to defend Smith

MELBOURNE Storm coach Craig Bellamy has labelled skipper Cameron Smith “one of the most decent human beings I’ve been involved with” in the wake of the Alex McKinnon controversy.

Smith, who is set to play his 300th NRL game next week, was superb as he led Queensland to a 52-6 demolition of New South Wales on Wednes- day night to claim this year’s State of Origin series.

The performance came just days after he was slammed by McKinnon for his reaction to the tackle that last year left McKinnon with a broken neck.

The Melbourne Storm and Maroons skipper is understandably upset with Channel Nine after the 60 Minutes program inexplicably failed to ask him for his side of the story.

The reaction to the pro- gram has been strong and swift, with everyone from NRL boss Dave Smith to former Collingwood skipper and Storm leadership development coach Nick Maxwell leaping to Smith’s defence.

Maxwell was so incensed he this week penned an open letter to 60 Minutes.

“The attack on Australian captain Cameron Smith was truly unnecessary and uncalled for,” Maxwell wrote.

“Smith is someone of the highest integrity who would do anything for anyone.”

Bellamy defended his captain yesterday, but was not willing to be publicly drawn into the hot debate.

“I think at some stage Cameron will tell his side of it and I will leave it up to him,” Bellamy said.

“One thing I will say is that Cameron Smith is one of the most decent human beings I’ve ever been involved with. He’s been an ornament to our game, he’s been a great ambassador for our club, for Queensland, for Australia and rugby league in general, so it was a tough time for him.”

The Queensland captain received the biggest cheer from Maroons fans at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night when the team was announced one by one on the big screen prior to kick off.

One, Maroons fan took it a step further by unveiling a “#riseforcameron” banner — a play on the “Rise for Alex” campaign.

Smith is expected to respond to McKinnon’s criticism before Melbourne’s clash with the New Zealand Warriors in Auckland on Sunday.

Stars Cooper Cronk, Will Chambers and Smith are at this stage all expected to back up against the Warriors.