Monday Buzz: Signing Cameron Smith is Brisbane’s only hope of salvaging NRL season

The Broncos are undoubtedly the most under pressure club in the NRL and their play for Cam Smith stinks of desperation, PHIL ROTHFIELD writes.

Will Cameron Smith (left) and Kevin Walters link at the Broncos? Picture: AAP/Glenn Hunt

The desperate last-ditch play by the Brisbane Broncos to sign Cameron Smith is their only hope of climbing off the bottom of the ladder and being competitive this year.

Without him there is virtually no hope of Broncos improvement and they will more than likely finish in the bottom four.

The Broncos have lost arguably the game’s most explosive forward, David Fifita.

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Their best player, Kotoni Staggs, is out for half the ­season. Their best forward, Payne Haas, will miss the first three games. They have lost a lot of experience in Andrew McCullough, Jack Bird and Darius Boyd.

Their gains – John Asiata (Cowboys), Dale Copley (Titans), David Mead (Catalan Dragons) and Isaiah Tass (Bulldogs) are handy footballers but hardly superstars.

Will Cameron Smith (left) and Kevin Walters link at the Broncos? Picture: AAP/Glenn Hunt

There are no standout leaders on or off the field, as has been proven by the wooden spoon and two years of shocking scandal.

The best illustration of the leadership crisis is when the coach is even thinking about making $1 million five-eighth Anthony Milford the captain. He is an uninspiring, often lazy player who has under-performed for years.

Even Matt Lodge’s name was mentioned as a possible captain. Give me a break.

There are also question marks around Kevin Walters’ coaching.

We all know he’s a local hero and up there with the world’s nicest human beings. A terrific fella. We also know he might restore passion and pride in the jersey – but the jury is still out on the more technical areas of his coaching.

Full-time NRL clipboarding over a 30-week season is so different to managing Origin players over a month when you don’t have to teach them skills because, at that level, they already have them.

There is probably more pressure on Kevvie than any other coach in the competition.

The Broncos cannot afford another poor year. In two years there will be another rugby league team in town. They won’t own the back page of the Courier Mail anymore.

Brisbane fans will have a choice to make.

Kevin Walters is under serious pressure. Picture: John Gass

Do they stick by the side that has been failing dismally on and off the field or get a fresh start with the new boys in town?

This is why Smith is such a crucial recruitment target. He, more than Kevvie, can help fix the culture and help keep misbehaving players in line.

This would be the greatest signing coup in the Broncos’ history. Bigger than the great Glenn Lazarus in 1992 or Gordie Tallis in 1997.

Still, no one has a clue what Smith is doing. Cooper Cronk sounds sure he will retire. Ben Ikin is tipping the Gold Coast. Peter Badel is writing up the Broncos’ chances.

This is desperation. All or nothing.

Cameron Smith’s future remains a mystery. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty

It would send a shot across the bow of their fast-growing rivalry with the Gold Coast Titans: “He’s ours, not yours.”

We know the second Brisbane team is more than likely to have Wayne Bennett as the figurehead and face of the franchise.

This is where the Broncos get much more than 12 months of football out of Smith. He would be a great commercial and marketing tool when the two teams go to war.

More importantly, Smith could proudly retire knowing he returned to Brisbane to help his home town out of this hopeless mess.

That should be his motivation.

Originally published as Monday Buzz: Signing Cameron Smith is Brisbane’s only hope of salvaging NRL season