‘I’m one of the lucky ones’: Cameron Smith retires from representative rugby league
Cameron Smith on his decision to leave the rep arena as Kevin Walters mulls over a new Queensland captain and No 9.
Queensland and Australian captain Cameron Smith has announced his retirement from representative football. Smith announced the news at a press conference in Melbourne this afternoon, bringing down the curtain on the most decorated interstate and international career in the sport’s history.
He leaves representative football having played 42 times for Queensland and 56 games for Australia.
“It has been a fairly lengthy process for me to come to this decision,” Smith said.
“I started having small thoughts about finishing up my representative career last year. This year is the right time for me to finish up. Last year’s (series) more than any other year the Origin series in particular had an effect on me physically and mentally out of any year I played. Looking back at it now I don’t think that is fair on myself, fair on my family, and also on my teammates here at the Melbourne Storm.”
Smith’s decision shapes as a massive blow to Queensland coach Kevin Walters, who sat beside his former captain during this afternoon’s press conference.
Walters will pick his side for the opening Origin game in a fortnight and Brisbane rake Andrew McCullough shapes as the likely replacement, although Sydney Roosters captain Jake Friend will also come under consideration.
Whoever steps into the Queensland No 9 jersey has a massive task given Smith’s standing in the game. Since making his Origin debut in 2003, he has been a fixture in the Maroons side, leading them during a period of unprecedented dominance for Queensland.
Smith is the third member of that all-conquering outside to stand down over the past 12 months — Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk have also retired from representative football
“From a personal point of view I would have loved to have played on for a lot longer,” Smith said.
“It has been an absolutely enjoyable experience I have had getting the opportunity to play for Queensland and Australia. I am one of the lucky ones — I got to fulfil my dreams many, many times. When I was given the opportunity to captain my country and captain my state was unbelievable.”
Walters added: “He has been a great player, but more importantly he has been a great person for the game. Respect and humility, all those things like you like to see in people, he shows that every day of his life. I think his performance in game three of last year’s State of Origin series ... was one of the best I have seen from anyone at that level. He won’t be there this year for us in a playing capacity. We won’t be able to find someone similar to Cameron but we will get someone who can hopefully do a good job not just for the maroons, but also Australia.”
It is understood Smith has been considering his representative future for several weeks but finally decided to retire after the side’s loss to St George Illawarra last week.
He informed Storm officials of his decision late last week but asked them to keep it quiet so he could inform Walters in person. He did that on Sunday morning in Brisbane, the morning after the Storm beat the Gold Coast Titans at Suncorp Stadium.
Smith said he started having the thoughts last year after he struggled to back up for the Storm following Origin games.
“I feel good, I feel real happy,” Smith said.
“When I spoke to Kev about the decision it was like a weight off my shoulders. I kept it to myself pretty much the entire time, apart from my wife of course.
“I spoke to my parents about it. I spoke to Craig (Bellamy) about it a few weeks ago now. That was really it. If I went around and spoke to a lot of people I would have had so many opinions.
“I didn’t want to cloud my judgment. My parents, my wife and Craig all had the same response — they were a little bit surprised but at the same time they said all they cared about was if I was happy with the decision I made, they were happy.”
Asked about potential replacements for Queensland, Walters said it had not been discussed.
“Obviously it is a big hole to fill in so many ways,” Walters said.
“It is obviously a massive blow for the series.”
While McCullough shapes as the replacement at hooker, Walters must also find a new captain. He has options: Greg Inglis and Darius Boyd both captain their clubs.
“I haven’t really thought too much about the captain side of things,” Walters said.
“All things going well, I hope we will be selecting Billy Slater for game one this year. Greg Inglis and Matt Scott, these guys have played a lot of Origin football. But we have lost our leader and our goalkicker. It is a big loss for Queensland but it had to happen one day.”
Smith acknowledged he was hopeful his decision would allow him to extend his career — he is off-contract at the end of the season but will sign a new deal to continue playing in Melbourne.
“I would like to think it will give me an opportunity to play on a little bit longer in our domestic competition if that is the right thing for me and my family, and the Melbourne Storm as well,” Smith said.
‘Needs to prove himself’: Eels great’s $400k wake up call for Brown
Parramatta legend Brett Kenny has declared Dylan Brown is not worth his $1.2 million asking price and has called for the Eels official who allowed the get-out clauses in his contract to be sacked.
‘It’s a total mess’: Dragons coach breaks silence on Molo saga
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan has broken his silence on the Francis Molo saga, conceding the former Queensland Origin prop may not return this season after crisis talks with the NRL.