Cameron Smith decides not to respond to Alex McKinnon’s claims in 60 Minutes interview

CAM Smith has reneged on a planned interview to speak out following Alex McKinnon’s criticism of him on 60 Minutes.

Melbourne Storm captain Cameron Smith. Melbourne Storm captain Cameron Smith sporing nail polish in support of Ovarian Cancer Australia and a special Women in League jersey. Picture: Eugene Hyland

CAMERON Smith has pulled out of a scheduled interview with Fox Sports, deciding to maintain his silence in the wake of the Alex McKinnon controversy, according to The Daily Telegraph.

While initially expected to respond to McKinnon’s criticism of him on 60 Minutes last Sunday night, Smith changed his mind and withdrew from the interview. He has instead travelled to Auckland with his Storm teammates in preparation for their match against the Warriors on Sunday.

In the program, McKinnon slammed the Australian hooker for complaining about conceding a penalty following a tackle last year that left the Newcastle forward confined to a wheelchair.

In controversial comments made earlier in the week, ARL Commission chairman John Grant said Alex McKinnon lost supporters with his criticism of Smith, and threw his support behind the underfire Queensland and Melbourne Storm skipper.

“Cameron is a great example of the best in rugby league and he has had a very difficult week,” Grant said, in comments published by The Australian.

“When you stand back from it, it’s very unfortunate it is where it is at the moment.

“The only people who can sort it out are Alex and Cameron. It’s (about) where they want this to end. If Cameron is happy with where he is, we don’t do anything. If Alex is happy with where he is, we don’t do anything either.

“It’s hard to imagine Alex — and be very careful in how you interpret this — Alex has the sympathy and empathy of 100 per cent of the rugby league community. It’s been shown in every way ­possible during unbelievably tragic circumstances.

“But where he is at the moment, he has lost some of that support. I don’t think that’s what he would have wanted.”

Watch Alex McKinnon react to Cam Smith vision in the video above

Cam Smith runs out for the Maroons.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy has also defended Smith and said it was up to his skipper to tell his side of the story now.

Smith led Queensland to a stunning 52-6 victory on Wednesday to claim the State of Origin series just days after being slammed by McKinnon, but did not speak with Channel 9 during or after the match.

Bellamy did not want to discuss whether Smith and the club had done enough to contact McKinnon, who said he hadn’t heard from the Test rake since the injury.

“At some stage Cameron will tell his side of it and I will leave it up to him,” Bellamy said.

“One thing I will say is that Cameron Smith is one of the most decent human beings I’ve ever been involved with.

“He’s been an ornament to our game, he’s been a great ambassador for our club, for Queensland, for Australia and rugby league in general so it was a tough time for him.”

Smith will be back on deck for Melbourne when they face the Warriors at Mount Smart Stadium on Sunday.

— with AAP

Originally published as Cameron Smith decides not to respond to Alex McKinnon’s claims in 60 Minutes interview