Ex-Maroons appeal for return of Smith
FORMER Maroons stars have appealed for coach Kevin Walters to send an SOS for Cameron Smith as momentum builds for the Storm champion to make a fairytale comeback to save Queensland in the State of Origin decider.
Almost two decades after Allan Langer sensationally returned from England to help the Maroons win the 2001 series, some former Queensland players believe the time has come for Smith to rescue the Maroons in Origin III on July 10.
Smith was at Perth’s Optus Stadium as a spectator on Sunday and the 42-game Queensland icon would have been deeply disturbed by the 38-6 thrashing that left the Maroons on the brink of a second consecutive series defeat.
Smith doused speculation last month he was set to come out of representative retirement, but former Maroons Scott Sattler, Gary Belcher and Willie Carne called yesterday for Walters to pick Origin’s most-capped player for the death-or-glory showdown in Sydney.
“We need to bring back Cam Smith,” ex-Maroons lock Sattler said yesterday.
“I just feel that Queensland need a story, they need an Allan Langer-style fairytale story.
“Queensland historically don’t like playing at ANZ Stadium and how do they create more than 16 or 20 points to beat NSW?
“Cameron Smith is still the best Queensland player running around the NRL.
“It would be a sledgehammer effect for the opposition.
“Straight away the Blues are up against arguably the most influential player rugby league has ever seen.
“Players like him make others around him better.
“Cam will get more out of the current squad around him ... his legacy won’t be tarnished in any way.
“He is Immortal.”
Ex-Maroons flyer Carne said Smith could play a similar already a future role to Cooper Cronk’s for the Roosters in last year’s NRL grand final.
“I wouldn’t rule it (a comeback) out. Everyone knows what Cam can offer, so why not?” Carne said.
“I think Kevvie and Cam will need to have a conversation this week about it.”
Maroons fullback great Belcher added: “I doubt it will happen, but I would be all for picking him.”
On the eve of Origin I last month, new Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans said he would have no issue with Smith returning to the fold.
“There’s no doubt he could still mix it at this level. He is a champion of the game,” Cherry-Evans said. Tigers: Thursday, 7.50pm. Bankwest Stadium Rabbitohs: Friday, 6pm. WIN Stadium Dragons: