The Gold Coast Bulletin

Lockyer rules out Cam return

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THE Cameron Smith Origin fairytale is dead-and-buried with Queensland powerbroke­rs yesterday ruling out a dream comeback for the Queensland champion.

Queensland selector Darren Lockyer says the Maroons will not go back to the future for the series opener on June 5 at Suncorp Stadium.

The push for Smith to come out of representa­tive retirement has gathered major momentum with QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher last week appealing for the Storm skipper to return to solve their hooking and leadership crisis.

Lockyer has enormous respect for Smith’s achievemen­ts, but says Queensland’s selection hierarchy will not be considerin­g Origin’s mostcapped player with a record 42 appearance­s.

“Cam is done with Origin,” said Lockyer, who passed the Queensland captaincy baton to Smith when he retired in 2011.

“There is no fairytale there. I’ve been talking with Cam generally about football. I haven’t been reaching out for him to come back but in talking to Cam, he’s done.”

 ?? Picture: GETTY ?? Cameron Smith.
Picture: GETTY Cameron Smith.

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