Fans who deride Cameron Smith for Melbourne loved him for Queensland or Australia
Those NRL fans who have derided Cameron Smith for Melbourne this season, didn’t seem to mind his tactics when he was playing for Queensland or Australia, writes MIKE COLMAN.
Opinion
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I’m with Craig Bellamy. Why does everyone hate Cameron Smith?
Actually that’s not 100 per cent true. It’s not everyone who hates Cameron Smith. Just the ones who don’t support Melbourne. And that’s the key to it.
Much as anyone might have problems with Smith’s tackling technique, the way he influences referees and his wife’s diamond ring, there is one thing that can never be questioned.
His ability.
Matter of fact, he might just be the best rugby league player of all time.
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As Wayne Bennett once said of Shane Webcke, “He might not be in a class of his own, but whatever class he’s in it doesn’t take long to call the roll.”
The same could be said of Smith, and then some, but even so Bellamy reckons he doesn’t get the respect he deserves, and he’s right.
The biggest cheer of the day when the Storm ended the Eels’ season last week came when Smith was sent to the sin bin.
This for a player who has played more than 400 matches, captained his country and state, broken just about every record in the game, won two Dally M Awards and never even been in a hint of trouble off the field.
So why in the last couple of years has his popularity rating dropped faster than the pound sterling?
Here’s my theory: it’s because he doesn’t play for “us”.
By “us” I mean whoever we go for, whether it be the Broncos, Cowboys, Dragons, Sea Eagles or any other club other than the Storm — and we find it hard to forgive him for that.
Cameron Smith is the ultimate example of the player who you would love to have playing for you, but you hate when he plays against you.
Think about it.
Queensland supporters didn’t have too many complaints about the way Smith spoke to referees when he was leading the Maroons to nine Origin series wins did they?
And I don’t recall too many Australians whingeing about his tackling style in any of the 56 games he played for the Kangaroos.
But the day he announced his retirement from representative footy that all changed.
He wasn’t “our” Cameron Smith any more, the proud Queenslander and Australian pin-up.
He was that miserable little wrestle-tackling, face-slapping, ref-bullying protected species from … dare I say it, Melbourne.
Overnight he went from one of “us” to one of “them”, and much as Bellyache might, well … bellyache about it, he’s just going to have to cop it.
It’s rugby league’s version of the Tall Poppy Syndrome.
You can’t be the best player in the game without attracting jealousy, spite and resentment.
Unless you’re Johnathan Thurston of course.
So what was the difference between JT and Smith? Bellamy got it in one.
“I don’t think he would be the villain if he had played 400 games in a rugby league state,” he said of his captain.
And of course if Todd Greenberg hadn’t given his missus that stupid diamond ring.
After all, it’s not as if he couldn’t afford to give her one himself.
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