Smith’s good for one more season
PHIL ROTHFIELD CHAMPION hooker and skipper Cameron Smith has agreed to play his 18th season at Melbourne Storm next year to become the first NRL star to smash the 400-game barrier.
The man regarded as arguably the greatest rugby league player of all time has reached an agreement with Storm chief executive Dave Donaghy in a $1 million deal.
His decision to play on next year has given his teammates a huge finals boost given the speculation he would retire alongside Billy Slater if Storm won the competition.
Smith has played 382 premiership games, 56 Test matches for Australia and 42 games for the Maroons.
That’s extraordinary toughness and durability considering he has played a full 80 minutes almost every week in the toughest body contact sport in the world.
Smith earlier this year played in a testimonial match with Johnathan Thurston at Suncorp Stadium to raise funds for Ovarian Cancer Australia and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
Having retired from State of Origin and Test match football, Smith believes his 35- year-old body will hold up for at least one more year.
Coach Craig Bellamy says it is particularly important Smith plays on to help usher through the next generation of Melbourne Storm’s younger stars.
Donaghy told the Cairns Post Smith had reached an agreement in principle with the club.
“Cameron’s still playing at the highest level, his standards haven’t dropped and when he ultimately finishes his career, he will be remembered as one of, if not the greatest rugby league player in history,” he said.
“He has the opportunity to do something nobody else in the game has ever done – play 400 games of NRL.
“That would be a remarkable achievement given how tough our game is, but even more remarkable is that you won’t hear him talk it up himself – he’s too humble for that and it’s all about the team for Cameron.
“If he’s able to achieve it, in Melbourne Storm colours, that’s something our organisation would be immensely proud of.
“He’s given an enormous amount of his life to our football club. It’s been a wonderful partnership for a long, long time.”