Cameron Smith’s ‘icy response’ to Craig Bellamy over questions about his future

Even Cameron Smith’s wife had questions about his indecision as claims the NRL icon has left his mates in the dark received more credibility.

Craig Bellamy wasn't privy to Cameron Smith's future plans.

More weight has been added to the claims Cameron Smith has gone MIA and is proving difficult to track down, even for those closest to him, as the extent of his indecision was revealed.

The rugby league legend has officially announced his retirement, as he settles into life on the Gold Coast after leaving Melbourne at the end of last year.

The rumour mill kept swirling about a minuscule chance he may lace up the boots for either the Titans or Broncos, if not now — he hasn’t taken part in any pre-season training, after all — or later in the year as a mid-season recruit given the June 30 transfer deadline has been scrapped and pushed back to August 1.

On Tuesday, NRL commentator Andrew Voss called Smith’s vanishing act “bizarre” and said it was “sad” even close friends and former teammates haven’t been able to get in touch with the ex-Queensland and Kangaroos captain.

“Some of his closest friends that I’ve spoken to, friends who played with him for years, haven’t been able to speak to Cameron. They leave messages — no reply. What’s all that about?” Voss told SEN 1170 Breakfast.

“The Storm can’t get any replies. To be honest, bizarre has become a bit sad.”

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Respected sports journalist Robert Craddock backed up that assertion when asked if there was any truth to the claim Smith was not returning calls or messages.

“One hundred per cent. The Broncos have been trying to get onto him. They ring each other, the clubs, and say, ‘Have you got onto Cam? No. Can you? No’,” Craddock said on Fox Sports program The Back Page on Tuesday night.

Pressed on whether Smith’s mates trying to get in contact were being left in the dark, Craddock added: “That is true.”

Smith has kept everyone guessing.

SMITH’S ‘ICY RESPONSE’ TO BELLAMY

Many pundits and fans thought Smith may have been playing games late last year, knowing he was going to retire but not telling anybody. There were repeated claims that a decision would be made at a certain point in the year — but that timeline kept changing and in the end, a final call never came.

Even Storm coach Craig Bellamy couldn’t get an answer out of Smith, and is no closer to knowing what the star hooker’s future holds.

“With Cameron, I’m not quite sure. You’d think with how close it is to Round 1 that he wouldn’t be playing this year,” Bellamy told SEN Breakfast on Wednesday.

“I went to his book launch and we met for dinner while I was still up there. We’ve had a few conversations this year, but his decision didn’t come up.

“I tried a couple of times last year and got a pretty icy response!”

WIFE QUESTIONS SMITH’S INDECISION

While some believe Smith wanted to avoid the fanfare his retirement would create, given he is one of the greatest rugby league players the world has ever seen, and so opted to drift into the NRL wilderness without a fuss, Craddock believes the Storm great was genuinely racked with indecision — and even his wife had questions.

“I don’t reckon he’s being contrarian, I reckon he’s stuck,” Craddock said.

“And they key quote I got off him in an interview in December, he said, ‘My wife Barb says to me, Cameron, why is it you can make 100 decisions during a league game but you cannot make one off the field?’

“So he’s stuck and he’s not being Mr Smarty Pants, leading anyone on.

“He rang (Johnathan) Thurston, (Paul) Gallen and (Billy) Slater and said, ‘Tell me when you know’ and they all said, ‘Mate, the bell goes off’. He said, ‘My bell just hasn’t rung. I just can’t get a vibe on it’.”

Smith’s wife knows he struggles to make decisions away from footy.

Smith will reportedly return to Melbourne ahead of the Storm’s Round 1 clash against South Sydney for the unveiling of a bronze statue at AAMI Park of him and Billy Slater, but won’t be hanging around to watch his former team open the season because of a prior engagement.

It’s also been reported he won’t address his former teammates — another sign Smith is keen to avoid the limelight after a stellar playing career that spanned nearly two decades.