Cameron Smith, the humble everyday champion who has given so much to Victoria
Let’s not talk retirement just yet, we don’t need to go there in order to start talking about just how much Cam Smith has given Melbourne, Victoria and Australia writes, Gilbert Gardiner. There’s only one thing left to say to the champion.
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Champion. Legend. Greatest Ever.
All three prefix Cameron Smith appropriately.
But none encapsulate the Melbourne Storm captain as neatly as normal, humble and selfless.
An everyday father, husband and son, who just so happens to be the greatest player, leader and statesman in Australian rugby league history.
The only thing left to say is this: Thank you.
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Smith capped an illustrious career – to date – with his third grand final win, guiding Storm to a pulsating 26-20 victory against Penrith Panthers at ANZ Stadium.
The 37 year-old bagged three conversions, two penalty goals and a “scrappy” try to give Storm what would be an unassailable 20-point lead.
“I don’t get many (tries) in my career, it was a scrappy one, take anything I can get,” Smith said.
Let’s talk about the R-word next.
No, not retirement but redemption for those stripped rings.
If Smith does end up hanging up the boots, the official record will read three-time premiership player.
Smith has done it all.
Premierships and personal accolades have landed at a breathtaking consistency.
He rewrites the NRL record books each week, for games (430), wins (310) and points (2784) among others.
Even Sunday night, Smith added the grand final points scoring record (44) with 14 in the first half.
Teammates closest to him say Smith “has the record for breaking records”.
To put the unparalleled 19-season career into context, only 29 players have played more NRL games than Smith has won.
Incredibly, the games’ most experienced has also been its most durable, missing only 13 matches through injury, suspension or, being rested after 42 Origin (record) and 56 Kangaroos appearances.
Smith has forged a legacy of winning that will remain unsurpassed for a very, very long time.
Arguably, the most impressive element of Smith’s career could be the ambassadorial role he has played in Melbourne.
Victorians loathe rugby league, generally.
Yet we all revel in Melbourne Storm and its sustained excellence.
Victorians are Storm fans, as opposed to NRL followers.
Smith has played a massive part in that, along with Craig Bellamy, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk.
Despite being revered and respected household names, being in Melbourne has allowed the quartet to lead normal (here is that word again) lives in the AFL heartland.
As Bellamy often says, AFL is the religion in Victoria, whereas league is the “little church down the road”.
This relative anonymity has suited them all, but especially Smith, a fiercely private person.
To the point even Bellamy, who has been around Smith for two decades, will be left with some unanswered questions.
“I don’t exactly know what actually makes him tick,” the super coach said. “But, I wish I knew.”
The thing is, it suits Smith.
He would be lucky to get out of a supermarket in Brisbane without being asked for a dozen selfies.
Whereas in Melbourne, he could stand in the middle of the MCG, wearing a fluoro green jacket at halftime of a Hawthorn-Sydney clash in front of 50,000 people, and barely get noticed.
He almost did on July 28, 2017, less than 48 hours before putting on a four try-assist masterclass in his 350th game.
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Even the Channel 7 cameras needed a close-up to confirm the dad in full Auskick garb, standing at the end of the guard of honour giggling and high-fiving his beloved “Hawkies”, was in fact the NRL Immortal-in-waiting.
With utmost respect for Smith, the 37 year-old marvel is unapologetically common.
He loves his family, his sport, and fast cars.
He enjoys a cold beer after games, win, lose, or draw, and once the boardies and thongs go on, reverts to dad-mode until the purple – or any other colour – jersey goes back on.
He feasts on consistency and high standards, the hallmarks of hard work and dedication.
“You can have your opinion on anything about his career, or him, or whatever, but at the end of the day no one has done what he has done in our game,” Bellamy said.
“For me greatness is the quality of your performance and how long has he done it for, well, no one has done it like he has and it might be a little while before someone does.”