Todd Greenberg slams critics of NRL’s ring gift to Cam Smith’s wife

The NRL’s lavish gift to Cameron Smith’s wife has raised eyebrows, but Todd Greenberg says critics are suffering from tall-poppy syndrome. VOTE IN OUR POLL

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NRL boss Todd Greenberg has accused critics of the decision to gift Cameron Smith’s wife Barb a diamond ring for his 400th game of suffering from tall-poppy syndrome.

The lavish gift has raised eyebrows across rugby league on Thursday after The Daily Telegraph revealed Greenberg had presented Barb Smith with the ring at a private dinner the NRL held for her husband in the week leading up to his milestone game in July.

But Greenberg has gone on the offensive, declaring the ring was not a secret, despite not publicly addressing it until now.

In an interview with 2GB’s Alan Jones on Friday morning, Greenberg defended the gesture.

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“It’s almost time we start celebrating more success in this country, not pulling down our champions,” Greenberg said.

“We’ve become negative towards some of our champions. There’s some people I reckon would boo Santa Claus.

READ GREENBERG’S OPINION ON SMITH RING

“It’s amazing that when we put our champions up on such pedestals why we feel the need to try and pull them down.

The NRL gifted Cameron Smith’s wife Barb a diamond ring for his 400th game.

“Cameron Smith has been nothing short of phenomenal.

“This was really small in the scheme of things.”

While Greenberg believes it is no big deal, the ring was not listed among the official ones to the Melbourne Storm captain when the NRL formally celebrated his milestone in July.

The dinner was covered in various sections of the press at the time, but there was no mention of Smith’s wife’s gift. Greenberg did not address why he had not acknowledged the gift it in public until now.

Cameron Smith with his custom-designed crystal football the NRL announced it was giving the Storm skipper, as Todd Greenberg watches on. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

“None of this was a secret,” Greenberg said.

“The only person this was a secret from was Barb herself because we wanted to give her a surprise.”

In July the NRL revealed it was presenting Smith a Waterford crystal football after the Storm’s 40-16 win over Cronulla, as well as a specially commissioned mural in Smith’s image in Richmond.

The NRL already had a backlash from the decision to allow Smith a testimonial game at Suncorp Stadium at the start of last year, well before his retirement, when he pocketed $150,000 and donated $15,000 to a charity.

Greenberg reiterated that Barb Smith deserved the gift for her contribution to her husband’s career “and to the game more broadly”.

“She’s a remarkable woman. Without her, there’s no doubt, Cameron has said it himself, he wouldn’t have made 400 matches,” Greenberg said.

“They’ve been together since they were teenagers.

“We thought this was a very fitting and unique way to mark the milestone by acknowledging her contribution to his career and to the game more broadly.”

The gesture has split rugby league fans, some of whom agreed it was a mark of respect for Barb Smith and the role women play in helping their partners achieve greatness.

Todd Greenberg and Cameron Smith ahead of his 400th NRL game in July. Picture: Getty

“Lovely gesture for women behind the players and their sacrifices,” one reader wrote.

While others have blasted it as grandstanding and a waste of money, which could have been better spent helping battling bush footy clubs or junior rugby league.

“Meanwhile bush clubs fold and grassroots footy is neglected,” another reader wrote.

“I bet the money for the ring didn’t come out of (Greenberg’s) pocket but from the expensive tickets that fans pay each week, not to mention sponsorship money. Absolutely disgraceful,” another reader wrote.

Originally published as Todd Greenberg slams critics of NRL’s ring gift to Cam Smith’s wife