NRL: If Cam Smith is not sure about retiring, he shouldn’t

Cam Smith carved up Manly after saying he’s unsure about whether he should retire. Which suggests he should not retire.

Cameron Smith showed he still have plenty to offer as he carved up Manly

The sun came up in the morning at Kawana Waters and everyone thought, is Cam Smith going to retire? They put the air in the footballs and took the clouds from the sky and everyone thought, is Cam Smith going to retire? They dotted the goalposts and crossed the Ts on the sidelines and gave the grass a mow at Sunshine Coast Stadium and everyone thought, is Cam Smith going to retire?

They put sauce on the pies and dished out the beers and everyone thought, is Cam Smith going to retire? The referee blew his whistle and thought, is Cam Smith going to tell me how to do my job and then retire? Short answer, yes.

The linesmen and the bunker and the tackling bags and the security guards and the timekeeper and probably the pizza delivery bloke and the cab driver and the parking inspector and the TV audience and the radio audience – the latter waiting for the ABC’s wonderful Andrew Moore to tell us Smith strikes it and he likes it – all watched Cam Smith carve up Manly and thought, is Cam Smith going to retire?

Cam Smith himself might have grabbed a cold one after the uncomplicated 30-6 victory over Manly and asked himself yet again, is Cam Smith going to retire? Everyone is waiting for Cam Smith to retire, but I looked at Cam Smith in slice-and-dice mode and thought, why retire?

It was the Sea Eagles’ virtual grand final, and they lost, which meant they wouldn’t be playing any sort of finals this year. A pinpoint 60m downfield kick from Smith gifted Josh Addo-Carr a try and you thought, he’s going to retire. He signalled for a captain’s challenge like someone had just hit a six in cricket and when it was successful, Nelson Asofa-Solomona scored from the next play and the Storm were away.

Smith was so involved it was a wonder that when he dished the ball out from dummy-half, it wasn’t him taking possession at first receiver.

He held up Curtis Sironen with one memorable last-gasp tackle. Fielded a grubber, on one knee, like he was at short cover.

His 424th NRL game was his first match in three weeks, the longest lay-off of his career. Before kick-off, Fox Sports’ Queensland coach Kevin Walters thought, is Cam smith going to retire? So he asked him for the benefit of the viewership. Smith replied: “Aw, Kevvy, I’d like to make a decision as soon as I can. But there’s a lot of things I still need to think about. I guess being on the sidelines the last few weeks hasn’t made it any easier, to be honest. It’s probably made it a little bit harder. I feel good. I feel fresh for the three weeks off. But I’d like to make a decision both for the Storm and myself moving forward.”

Athletes know when the time has come. It’s a simple choice because it is no choice. They have to hang up the boots, racquet, bat, ball, dart, clubs, spikes, Speedos because they can no longer bare the thought of carrying on. The body has packed it in or the mind is shot, or both. Neither seems the case with the 37-year-old Smith.

It’s been suggested he might end his career at the Gold Coast Titans. It’s also been suggested he can’t bring himself to play against the Storm. Why not? He can help build the Titans. He can drop his kids off at school, get a nice tan. He’s been playing for 19 years, but hardly a hand has been laid on him. Two years at the Titans may be two of the most enjoyable years of Smith’s career. Walters has chirped: “See you in a Maroons jersey in November!”

Heck yes. Why not? Why not play Origin every chance you get? Why not play footy forever?

He still loves it. That much is obvious, and important. Do what you love. It sounds like he’s been leaning towards retirement but his three-week hiatus, a mini-retirement, has made him think he wants to avoid hiatuses for as long as possible.

Why go when you don’t have to? Smith going to the Titans has the feel of a marquee loan player helping a club that requires strength of leadership and skill. He cannot lose if he goes there. I doubt he will do it, but I hope he does. If you’re not sure about retirement, don’t retire.