Coach takes blame for confusing Cameron Smith moment after Storm win

Cameron Smith is yet to confirm his retirement, so what was he doing sitting aloft his teammates shoulders as he exited Suncorp on Friday night?.

Is this it for Cameron Smith?

The Melbourne Storm are into the Grand Final after a 30-10 demolition of the Canberra Raiders and Cameron Smith has added yet another incredible moment to his legendary career.

Smith is keeping mum on whether the Grand Final will be his last game in the NRL but was surprisingly chaired off the field on Friday night in an amazing moment.

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But if you thought this was a retirement announcement you were wrong.

“I just thought it would be a nice photo if he does decide in January to pull the pin, or whenever,” Storm coach Craig Bellamy said to laughter from the media. “That’s what he did in Origin, poor old Kevvie had a heart attack. I just thought it was the right thing to do if it was his last game at Suncorp, he’s had a lot of wonderful memories here.”

Asked point blank if it was his last game at Suncorp, Smith said: “I can’t tell you. I don’t know, I don’t know. All I’m worried about this year is trying to play well and just enjoy watching these young fellas grow as footballers and grow as men.

“I’ve been very fortunate in my career to be involved in some really big games for the Storm and lucky enough to win some premierships along the way. There’s a lot of guys just starting out there career who haven’t had that opportunity yet and I’m just enjoying their success at the moment and sharing their journey.”

Cameron Smith was chaired off Suncorp Stadium but still no decision.

He added that he would make a decision after the Grand Final.

But Smith also showed he still has it in him if he wants to play on.

Commentators are known for the odd piece of hyperbole but we saw another example why Smith and all the greats are where they are — they never let up.

Trailing 30-6 with 14 minutes remaining, the Raiders went wide through Nick Cotric, who kicked over the top and regathered the ball to seemingly just fall over the line to keep Canberra in the game.

But who else was there to make the tackle but Smith with Cotric’s face falling millimetres from the line.

“37 years of age, I reckon this kid can play,” Andrew Voss said on Fox League.

“Stick around for another 10 years Cameron after that. Surely not, Cameron Smith saving a try on a 60m chase down field.”

Cameron Smith makes a miracle tackle.

Greg Alexander said: “How did he not get the ball across the line? I thought all he had to do was reach out?”

But the tackle was so good, so solid, it knocked the ball out of Cotric’s grasp.

“That’s just about the greatest play of Cameron Smith’s career,” Voss said. “He’s at marker when Canberra started this rush.”

It was a spectacular moment arguably only matched when he was given an early mark with five minutes remaining.

He waved to the crowd and ran around the sideline, waving to the fans in attendance.

“That’s almost an indicator I am retiring,” Voss said of Smith’s waving to the crowd. “I haven’t seen too many players go on the half lap of honour. You’d have to think this is the last appearance at Suncorp.”

Alexander said after the Smith wave that he would “put my money on” it being his last appearance at Suncorp Stadium.

He’s playing more like a 27 year old that a 37 year old.

After the game, Cooper Cronk said he believed that Smith “knew he was going to retire for a long period of time, I think he’s told the team and everyone and the Melbourne Storm know and are keeping it in house”.

After rejecting a farewell at Suncorp earlier in the week, Smith has at least one more game to play, with the hope of a fairytale finale to his unmatched career.

His dad Wayne Smith was interviewed on Fox League and said “I think he’ll let us all know after the Grand Final, he keeps it pretty close to his chest”.

Braith Anasta was perplexed as to why Smith wouldn’t announce his retirement after the celebrations.

“He’s going to get peppered by questions after this and so is Bellamy so why not (announce his retirement)?” Anasta said. “It’s quite obvious he’s going to retire. We know that now so why not put that to bed?”

Cameron Smith chaired off Suncorp Stadium. If he's not retiring, he's doing a good impression of a bloke who's retiring. #NRLStormRaiders

— Jon Healy (@JonHealy) October 16, 2020