Australia v New Zealand Anzac Test: Cameron Smith reveals plans to lead Kangaroos in 2018

CAMERON Smith has outlined plans to outlast Johnathan Thurston and lead Australia in 2018 to reclaim Test supremacy from New Zealand.

CAMERON Smith has outlined plans to outlast Johnathan Thurston and lead Australia in 2018 to reclaim Test supremacy from a Kiwi team he believes has a mental edge over the Kangaroos.

In a major boost for Australia ahead of Friday night’s Test against New Zealand, Smith revealed his desire to captain the Kangaroos and Queensland beyond his 35th birthday.

Coach Mal Meninga’s mission to regenerate the national team will take a huge hit next year when star pivot Thurston retires from representative football after the World Cup to focus on the Cowboys.

Cameron Smith is hoping to become Australia’s longest-serving hooker.

Thurston, 33, won’t be the only big-name domino to fall, with 34-year-old duo Paul Gallen and Corey Parker facing their Test mortality as the Kangaroos rebuild for next year’s World Cup defence.

But Smith shot down retirement plans. The champion rake is contracted to Melbourne until the end of 2018 and will become the first hooker in Australia’s 108-year history to play 50 Tests if he skippers the Kangaroos beyond next year’s World Cup.

The 32-year-old plays his 44th Test on Friday night, just shy of Petero Civoniceva (45), Graeme Langlands (45) and Meninga (46), and hopes to wear green-and-gold in 2018 if his form warrants selection.

“If I’m still playing good enough footy, I will be putting my hand up to be there (after the World Cup),” Smith said.

“I understand there is plenty of footy to be played between now and then, but I don’t plan on giving this (his rep jumpers) up any time soon.

“The rep season is always a great time for me. I know the (NRL) coaches don’t really like it but I love going away and representing my country and Queensland.

“I’ve already had some conversations with Mal. We haven’t gone into too much detail but there’s a few things we need to sort out as a group.

“We need to sort out where we want to move the team in the next few years. We have this Test but then there’s the Four Nations and the following year there’s the World Cup so it’s an important two years for the Kangaroos.

“We’ve heard plenty of people saying we’re too old, myself included, but age is just a number.”

Smith has sufficient motivation to extend his international career. He presided over Australia’s Four Nations final loss in 2014 and last year’s dismal 26-12 defeat to the Kiwis and says he won’t be satisfied until he wrests the No.1 ranking back from New Zealand.

Young Roos Greg Inglis, Smith, Reni Maitua, Anthony Tupou and Jarryd Hayne in 2006.

“The Kiwis have the wood on us at the moment — there’s no denying it,” Smith said.

“The last three times we have beaten by them and it’s time to put Australia back where we want to be and that’s on top.

“New Zealand are the world champions so I want to go out there and make sure this Australian team doesn’t drop its standards.

“It’s an important week and I always look forward to the opportunity to captain my country in the green-and-gold jumper.”

Smith says Meninga will bring a fresh edge to Australia but won’t necessarily be relying on the blueprint that drove Queensland to nine Origin titles in 10 years.

The Kangaroos’ old boys share a laugh.

“Mal is going to be a different approach to the Kangaroos,” Smith said.

“He will bring some different concepts to the team and the future of the Kangaroos, I’m excited to be back in the team and playing another Test. We don’t care what happened last year or the Four Nations, this team has the opportunity to play well and make a statement.

“This is Australia, not the Maroons, so Mal will work to our strengths and we’re talking about the 17 best players available for Australia at the moment.

“Mal will work out the strengths of each player and we’ll play to that.

“The Kiwis are definitely on top. But if we play to our capabilities, we’ll have a good chance of winning the game.”

Originally published as Australia v New Zealand Anzac Test: Cameron Smith reveals plans to lead Kangaroos in 2018