He’s the frontrunner for NSW No.9 jumper, now it’s time for Cam McInnes to crack Cam Smith duck
HE’S the frontrunner for the NSW No 9 jumper. And now it’s time for proud new father Cameron McInnes to put some history to bed relating to his head-to-head record with Cameron Smith.
Dragons
Don't miss out on the headlines from Dragons. Followed categories will be added to My News.
HE’S the frontrunner for the NSW No 9 jumper.
And now it’s time for proud new father Cameron McInnes to put some history to bed relating to his head-to-head record with Cameron Smith.
With so many changes anticipated for NSW this year, NRL ladder leaders St George Illawarra host reigning premiers Melbourne tomorrow where McInnes will get the perfect chance to show why he deserves to be a part of Brad Fittler’s baby Blues.
SPRAY: The Bennett blast that saved George Burgess
LATE MAIL: Sorensen cleared, Bukuya
PHENOMENAL: Seibold praises Knights danger man Ponga
But Fox Sports Stats show that on the three occasions McInnes has played against Smith, McInnes is yet to walk away with a win.
McInnes played his first game against Melbourne at South Sydney in 2014 and lost the round 10 game 24-14.
In 2015 the Storm again beat the Rabbitohs 16-12 in the same round, while the only other time McInnes played Smith was last year when Melbourne beat St George Illawarra 34-22 in round nine.
But as they have displayed throughout the opening eight rounds, the Dragons of 2018 are a new and vastly improved model.
Fittler headed to Wollongong along with his selection advisers Danny Buderus and Greg Alexander on Thursday to watch the Dragons train.
All up, six of the Dragons are in contention for a NSW spot with McInnes in a battle with Damien Cook and Api Koroisau for the dummy half job.
Buderus told The Daily Telegraph he has been impressed with McInnes’ form this year.
“As James Graham has said, (McInnes) is one of the hardest workers he has come across,” Buderus said.
“He has had a great start to the season and he is getting great go-forward out of his middle men and he is picking his times when to run.
“He is also very good defensively.
“He is just a real team-player.”
Asked what he was looking forward to seeing from the Dragons players in Blues contention against Melbourne, Buderus said: “Nothing changes for them. I think Mary McGregor would be thinking this is just another game St George Illawarra should go in to win.
“I don’t think it is about Origin talk.
“But from a personal point of view, if you have aspirations to play Origin this year you’d be pretty excited about this game because there is a fair few Queenslanders in that team.
“And especially for the No 9 position, it is an opportunity for Cam McInnes.
“Any time you come up against the best player it is a chance to test yourself.
“The way he has started the year he has been consistent in displaying characteristics for selection in Origin, there is no doubt about that.
“He is bigger than what you think. He has a real affective tackle. He is leading line speed. All these things that you look for, he is doing consistently.”
McInnes had another terrific game in the Anzac Day win over the Roosters.
And what made it even more impressive was that he went into the game with a little issue in the back of his mind.
His fiancée Rachel was already in hospital preparing to give birth.
So as soon as the game finished, McInnes politely shook hands and hightailed it back to Wollongong before the official presentation was even complete.
They are now the new proud parents of little Talanoa.
It is an absolute credit to McInnes the way he has fought back and saved his career at the Dragons after he was pretty much pushed out of South Sydney when they signed Robbie Farah, who was the incumbent NSW No 9.
Such is his standing at the Dragons, the 24-year-old is now the youngest member of the team’s leadership group that also includes Gareth Widdop, Graham and Tyson Frizell.