Cameron Smith in uncharted territory as Storm champion faces huge challenge without Cooper Cronk
IT is clear that for the first time in his career Storm champion Cameron Smith is playing frustrated. And there’s a good reason, writes PAUL CRAWLEY.
NRL
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IN February, Cameron Smith did an interview before the World Club Challenge.
The man widely hailed as the greatest player of all time was asked if Cooper Cronk’s departure would give the remaining Melbourne players motivation to help renew the club.
“Not really,” Smith said.
“We’ve lost players in the past after premierships and we will continue to lose players in coming seasons as well.
“Cooper is just one of those players. It just so happens he’s in a key position.”
Smith might not have intended it this way, but his response was seen as grossly undervaluing the champion halfback’s influence at the Storm over 14 years.
Just one of those players. Really?
When Cronk signed with the Sydney Roosters, most thought he would be the one who struggled without Smith and Billy Slater beside him.
But heading into round six and what is clear is that for the first time in his career, Smith is the one who is playing frustrated.
Two weeks ago he was sin-binned in the loss to Cronulla.
Then last week against Wests Tigers it was even more obvious.
There were occasions when young Brodie Croft stood like a shadow in the background as a clearly agitated Smith took charge at first receiver.
The lack of chemistry was evident.
Michael Ennis said on Fox League during the week: “Smith’s second half was excellent … but when the game was in the balance, I thought Smith started to play away from Croft, which was concerning.”
It came as no surprise to see coach Craig Bellamy drop Croft and promote Ryley Jacks to play against Newcastle on Saturday night.
Don’t underestimate just how big a game this is for the Storm.
While no one will be writing off the reigning premiers if they lose again, Fox Sports Stats shows this is already Melbourne’s worst start to a season since 2004, with two wins from five games.
It’s true, the Roosters haven’t exactly set the world on fire this year. But what can’t be disputed is Cronk’s influence on the players around him, the way he executes the game plan.
Last week’s performance against Cronulla was a typical game in which the Roosters weren’t playing at their best and probably wouldn’t have won without Cronk’s composure.
In the end, they ended up winning easily.
While Smith was always the mastermind at Melbourne, Cronk was Bellamy’s on-field general.
As great a player as Smith has been, he also has been blessed throughout his career by having the best players around him, whether playing for Melbourne, Queensland or Australia.
Right now he looks to be in uncharted territory.
Smith still hasn’t made a decision about whether this will be his final season in the NRL.
But at the back end of his career, learning to adapt to life without Cronk could well be the greatest challenge Smith has faced.
IT is also going to be a different experience for Smith going into State of Origin this year without Cronk and Johnathan Thurston.
Even more so than at NRL level, Origin is so close that usually it comes down to one play changing the game, even defining a series.
For years, NSW have struggled to come up with the right halves combination to match Queensland.
On so many occasions it has been Cronk or Thurston who have iced the moment.
Now the Maroons don’t have either, although they do have some pretty handy reinforcements.
Maybe Melbourne didn’t realise that Cronk would be as significant a loss as he has been. Maybe they did, but Smith didn’t want to admit it.
Last year when Cronk announced he would be leaving, the Storm seemed satisfied they did have the young halves in their system to fill the void, although over the summer that seemed to change.
There were rumours of a growing unease between Smith and Croft.
Smith certainly made no secret of his desire to try and get Mitchell Pearce to join the Storm after Cronk had signed with the Roosters.
When Pearce runs out for the Knights on Saturday night, Smith will have Jacks beside him, starting his 13th NRL game.
It’s always a huge challenge for young playmakers to stay up every week. Often coaches make a decision like Bellamy did this week to give them a rest.
No doubt, Croft is an outstanding young talent and he will come back better for his experiences.
But how Smith adapts will be equally interesting to watch unfold. Frustration is an aspect we have rarely seen in his game.
What is obvious now is that Cronk was always a whole lot more than “just one of those players” at Melbourne.
BLUES GO ALL IN ON JOKER JAMES
JAMES Maloney has a reputation for being the practical joker. Which is one of the reasons why you get the feeling he is going to work perfectly with new NSW coach Brad Fittler.
The two were spotted in conversation after Penrith’s 12-6 win over Parramatta.
Asked what they were talking about, Maloney burst into laughter.
“He told me I’d kicked 29 goals in a row or something, which I didn’t know,’’ Maloney said.
“Just general Freddy chat. Just spacey chat, really.”
But while both like to treat football as fun, you don’t climb to the heights in the game they’ve achieved without knowing when to switch on.
For further proof, look at the way Maloney has taken charge of Penrith after the injury to Nathan Cleary.
In the two games, Maloney has been the architect behind Penrith’s wins over North Queensland and Parramatta, and it has been his competitiveness and composure that have really inspired his new teammates.
Maloney is really enjoying working with Penrith coach Anthony Griffin, who has given him “more of a leadership role” than he had at Cronulla.
“And that is something I am getting a lot out of,” Maloney said.
“You get a bit of a buzz watching these young kids come through. Guys making their debuts and guys starting to really get some exposure and credit for the good work they are doing.”
When Penrith and Cronulla made the swap between Matt Moylan and Maloney, many thought the Panthers might be getting the short straw because Moylan is only 26 and Maloney is 31.
But Maloney’s football this season has confirmed one thing already: that conversation with Fittler on the sideline last Sunday would have had more to it than “just spacey talk”.
THUMBS UP
RICKY Stuart’s sideline performance during Canberra’s win over Canterbury was as entertaining as the play on the field.
And this Saturday is going to make for interesting viewing again when the Raiders take on Parramatta.
Like Stuart, Brad Arthur doesn’t mind watching the game from the sideline and that’s where Arthur took himself for the second half against Penrith last Sunday.
Unfortunately for Arthur there was no joy but at least he was boosted by the improved effort from his team.
This is such a close competition that any given game can be decided by the bounce of a ball, which was the case in the Eels’ loss to the Panthers.
Yet most of the time we talk up one team as being great and the other shockingly bad.
It’s not always the case.
THUMBS DOWN
NATHAN Brown has won plenty of support for taking Wayne Bennett to task for the supposed terrible state he left Newcastle.
But Brown overstepped the mark big time by bringing Bennett’s personal life into the conversation.
Then came the spin with the suggestion Brown’s “little head” comment was made in reference to the big-picture, little-picture approach Bennett took while coaching the Knights.
Seriously, you only had to look at Brown’s face as he stood up and walked out of the media conference to know what he was referring to.
If Bennett was part of an official investigation, it would be a public matter. Otherwise, it’s no one’s business.
TABLE-TOPPERS
THIS is the first time since 2013 that two teams have remained undefeated heading into round six.
But Fox Sports Stats shows history is against St George Illawarra and the Warriors going on to win the premiership from here.
In 2013, Melbourne and South Sydney were unbeaten after five rounds but neither made the grand final.
COMPO CLAIMS
IT looks like the Denver Test is going to go ahead but we are still awaiting confirmation that NRL clubs will be given salary-cap relief if players are injured while away on representative duty.
NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg said last month that he believed an overdue change could be pushed through in time for this year’s rep season.
But it will come too late to help Canberra. The Raiders are still wearing the cost of losing Josh Hodgson to an ACL knee injury during the World Cup.
When people criticise Canberra’s slow start to the season, they seem to forget they are not only playing without their best player but had to let back-up hooker Kurt Baptiste leave the club before the season because of salary-cap issues.
Manly have also had to deal with losing Dylan Walker, who broke his leg while playing for the Prime Minister’s XIII against Papua New Guinea last September. Walker is now back for the Sea Eagles.
TACKLE FIENDS
WESTS Tigers and the Warriors have always been known as dangerous attacking teams but this year both clubs have put together the best defensive starts to a season in their histories.
The Tigers have the NRL’s best defence after five rounds with only 55 points conceded, followed by St George Illawarra with 60 and the Warriors on 65.
Fox Sports Stats shows the Tigers have never conceded fewer points in their opening five games since they entered the comp in 2000, while it’s the Warriors’ best since 1995.
COOTE CRUCIAL
LACHLAN Coote has been on the outer at North Queensland this year but his return for the game against Canterbury brings with it an interesting statistic.
When Coote plays for the Cowboys, they win 67 per cent of their matches. Their winning record without him is only 21 per cent. The Cowboys haven’t lost five consecutive games since 2013.
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