Cameron Smith leaves the Origin arena as its greatest player
SINCE State of Origin began back in 1980, there has never been a greater or more influential player than Cameron Smith, writes Phil Rothfield.
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NRL DAILY: Origin punters react to Smith bombshell
STATE of Origin will never be the same again.
No Cameron Smith almost means no-one to hate. In a nice way.
Who wants to boo Andrew McCullough or Jake Friend.
It’s like an NRL comp without Manly, everyone’s 16th favourite team.
Not since Wally Lewis retired 27 years ago has a player polarised State of Origin fans as much as the champion hooker and captain.
Worshipped north of the border but disliked by Blues fans.
Only because, like King Wally, he was such a great player.
Smith’s timing is honourable.
He could have done it last year after the World Cup and State of Origin and got the public farewells he deserved.
Yet he waited in hope that the hunger may still be there in 2018.
That his 34-year-old body could handle one more campaign.
In the end he put his family and Melbourne Storm first.
After 56 Test matches, 42 State of Origin games and four Wally Lewis medals.
A phenomenal player, a future immortal and possibly the best we’ve ever seen.
You start thinking about an all-time great Origin team of NSW and QLD players.
Cameron Smith would be the first man picked.
He was their greatest and most influential player.
To play in 11 series wins in 12 years, the last six as captain, is the proof of that.
CAMERON SMITH’S REP CAREER
Australia
• Tests 56 (2006-17) • 33 Tests as captain (2007-17) • Tri-Nations 2006 • World Cup 2008, 2013, 2017 • Four Nations 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016 • Captained Australia to World Cup victory 2013, 2017 • Junior Kangaroos 2001, 2002
Queensland
• State of Origins 42 (2003-17) • Queensland Emerging Origin 2002-03 • Queensland Under-19s: 2001, 2002
Other information:
• Wally Lewis Medallist 2007, 2011, 2013, 2016 • Dally M Representative Player of the Year 2007, 2011, 2013 • Most State of Origin appearances — 42 • Most State of Origin wins — 24 • Most State of Origin series wins — 11 • Second most Tests for Australia — 56 • Represented NRL All Stars 2010, 2011, 2013; • World All Stars 2016
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HOW SMITH’S CAREER UNFOLDED
Originally published as Cameron Smith leaves the Origin arena as its greatest player