NRL 2020: Cameron Smith undecided on Melbourne Storm future
Cameron Smith will turn 37-years-old next month, but the Melbourne Storm captain is yet to decide whether 2020 will be his last season after the coronavirus forced the NRL shutdown.
Storm
Don't miss out on the headlines from Storm. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Melbourne Storm skipper Cameron Smith won’t even think about his future until at least 10 rounds in to the most “extraordinary” season of his illustrious career.
Contracted until the end of this season Smith, who turns 37 next month, said he had a “hectic” few weeks as the NRL reorganised its season dealing with club issues, extreme biosecurity protocols and pay discussions as the president of the Rugby League Players Association.
The father of three was also homeschooling his kids and fitting in fitness sessions before returning to training and said he hadn’t even thought about whether he would go on next season.
Rugby league is back!!! Watch every NRL match of the rebooted season LIVE on KAYO SPORTS. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
“My mindset at the start of the year, before we even kicked off the season was that I would revisit the thoughts around 2021 mid-year,” Smith told the Herald Sun.
“I thought that would be best to get a gauge on where I’m at physically and mentally after playing 12 games.
“So it’s on the backburner until we play at least another 10 games, whether I am still holding up physically and enjoying going to training, that’s when I will start to think about that.”
Smith said Storm’s training sessions after retraining to AAMI Park had been sharp and intense and he was excited about where they were placed ahead of the season resumption on Saturday against Canberra.
He said he had seen plenty during his 413-game career, but he’s never experienced anything like the impact COVID-19 has had on the NRL.
Smith said overcoming all the challenges it has presented would make premiership victory this year extraordinary.
“There are so many challenges and will be along the way that teams are going to have to overcome to win it,” he said.
“Whatever team manages this season the best and goes on to win it, it would be one of the most extraordinary titles in the most extraordinary season anyone has taken part in.”
RUNNY NOSE COULD DERAIL A SEASON
Cameron Smith knows something as simple as a runny nose could derail his or any team’s entire 2020 premiership campaign.
The Melbourne Storm captain is confident the he can handle the same day travel for games when it starts, after having the luxury of starting the new COVID-19 impacted season at home.
The strict biosecurity measures, tougher than those imposed on the community, with a daily app to fill in and clean and dirty zones at AAMI Park, were tough to get used too, he said, but everyone has adapted.
Playing in front of no crowds is something the veteran superstar, who has played in seven Grand Finals and a record 42 State of Origins is going to feel though.
The soon to be 37-year-old said it was playing in front of big, loud fans which really got him going.
But it’s the idea that the slightest sniffle could see any player, any time, banished for days, on top of all the other challenges, that has crystallised in the superstar skipper’s mind that premiership victory in 2020 will be something quite extraordinary.
“Any sign of any flu like symptoms you are pretty much locked out of training for two days. A raised temperature, tickle in your throat, runny nose, cough, muscle soreness that’s not related to training or playing, and you are blocked,” Smith told the Herald Sun.
“That’s something we have discussed, that there’s a real possibility that nearly every player in our team will miss a game due to these things.
“That doesn’t mean you are going to test positive to coronavirus, but even a symptom means you can’t train or play.
“Teams could be missing key players, so someone has to come in to replace them. That’s another thing teams have to overcome, to have as many people in your team or squad as possible well prepared for each game.
“Whatever team manages this season the best and goes on to win it, it would be one of the most extraordinary titles in the most extraordinary season anyone has taken part in.”
It’s been so extraordinary that even Smith took gym equipment home when the season was suspended to ensure he remained in the best condition possible, in what could still be his final year in the NRL.
Infamous for being the “opposite of a gym junkie”, Smith ploughed through his four weekly sessions, while also homeschooling his three kids.
But what started as a “nice” first couple of weeks for a man who normally has a calendar as full as any of the game’s busiest people soon turned very “hectic”.
As NRL officials pushed to get rugby league going again Smith, as president of the Rugby League Players Association, was active in discussions about all things from biosecurity protocols to pay.
“I was on phone hook-ups and Zoom hook-ups and on different group text conversations for about two weeks, where nearly every day I would get out of bed, get the kids going with schooling, then be on the phone all day,” Smith said.
“That was a really hectic period and it was quite draining trying to work through a lot of things. It was just quote laborious.
“Once we got a result that worked for everyone it settled down and before we knew it we were back up and going and training.”
MORE NEWS
Bennett blasts Trell critics: ‘Trust me, he is a fullback’
The four funniest things you can yell at the footy
Smith was really happy with how his teammates returned to training, and how they have approached the enforced restrictions which limit their movements, what they can do and who they can see.
He said there had been no lack of energy at training sessions, and as the restart neared, the intensity and sharpness lifted.
It’s been a return that has given Smith confidence that Storm, installed as premiership favourites by plenty of bookies, could produce the goods on field.
“I’m very positive about where are right now, the three weeks leading in, I have been really happy with the boys are looking really fit, and ready to go,” he said.
“The training sessions have been sharp. But that’s right now. There’s a lot of things that we need to get through before the end of the season before you start feeling confident about taking out the title.
“It’s just so strange the way this season has panned out. If if stays this way for the rest of the year with no crowds and same day travel and all the other restrictions and challenges, it will be the most extraordinary season I have ever been involved in.”
Originally published as NRL 2020: Cameron Smith undecided on Melbourne Storm future
Gus’ ‘doctored’ claim ignites NRL conspiracy
The NRL Grand Final’s controversial no try scandal has taken a wild turn despite the game releasing the angle the decision was based on.
Storm ‘grubbery’ finally comes back to bite
The Melbourne Storm are licking their wounds after another tough grand final loss, but they only have themselves to blame for falling short.