NRL 2020: Cameron Smith rules himself out State of Origin comeback, hints at retirement
With Queensland in the midst of an injury crisis Gorden Talis has urged the most capped Maroon to make an incredible Origin comeback. But will Cameron Smith make an Wayne Bennett ‘Allan Langer-style’ comeback after the NRL Grand Final?
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Cameron Smith has ruled out an Allan Langer-style comeback for Queensland as the Storm champion gave the strongest indication yet Sunday’s grand final against Penrith will mark his retirement from rugby league.
The Maroons are battling an injury crisis with incumbents Kalyn Ponga, Michael Morgan and Moses Mbye to miss the November series, while Valentine Holmes is suspended for Game One and Cameron Munster is in grave doubt with a knee problem.
Wayne Bennett famously recalled Langer from England to win the 2001 Origin series and with the super coach now back in charge at Queensland, there was speculation he would reach out to Smith for a Maroons cameo.
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Former Queensland skipper Gorden Tallis has urged Smith — the most-capped player in Origin history with 42 appearances — to return to help the injury-ravaged Maroons avoid a third consecutive series loss.
But as he prepares for his eighth grand final at ANZ Stadium, Smith closed the door on a fairytale Origin comeback, saying Queensland had a raft of hooking options headed by Ben Hunt, Jake Friend, Harry Grant and Reed Mahoney.
Asked if he would consider a return to help Bennett’s depleted Maroons, Smith said: “No. We are flush with nines for Queensland.”
Having clarified his Origin future, Smith was less emphatic about his NRL career, but his philosophical thoughts suggest the 37-year-old will play his 430th and final game for the Storm in the NRL decider at Homebush.
Smith was chaired from the field by teammates after last week’s finals defeat of Canberra in what seemed a farewell to Suncorp Stadium, the scene of his Queensland Origin debut as a 20-year-old in 2003.
Speaking before the Storm launched their grand-final preparations with a training run at Sunshine Coast Stadium, Smith said he would not be fazed if the rugby league world spent the whole week speculating about his future.
Smith has still not had negotiations with the Storm over a new deal for 2021. And the off-contract Melbourne champion provided a compelling insight into his thought process when asked if he feared walking away from the game after 19 years in the NRL.
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“I don’t fear life after football,” he said.
“I am comfortable with where I am at.
“If this is to be my last game then I will have to adjust to life after playing footy.
“I am lucky to have three beautiful kids and a lovely wife who have sacrificed plenty in their own life to enable me to play for such a long time.
“Moving forward that is all I need. I have a beautiful family and I will have some great memories about the game if it is my last.
“If not, you will see me running around next year.
“It (talk about his future) has been going on all year and I am really comfortable with that.
“I totally understand there is going to be interest in what I am going to be doing next year but players retire all the time.
“Everyone just needs to enjoy grand final week. Let us not focus on the individual.”