Dally M Awards Player of the Year: 2006, 2017 Captain of the Year: 2011, 2013, 2017, 2018, IN A LEAGUE 2019 Hooker of the Year: 2006,2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019 OF HIS OWN Rep Player of the Year: 2007, 2011, 2013, 2016 ROB CROSBY charts the incredible two decades over which Cameron Smith gave everything to the game of rugby league - the good, the bad and the ugly. t will only be a matter of when, not if, Cameron Smith is 2004: acknowledged as an Immortal of the game. • Smith appears in all three matches for Queensland. I Holding the records for most appearances and points in 2005: first grade, the 37-year-old hooker was instrumental in the • Smith brings up 50 NRL games in the opening round successes of Melbourne, Queensland and Australia for almost of the season. two decades. 2006: Making a much-anticipated decision to retire after 19 seasons • Smith is named as part of a rotating captaincy at the highest level, his achievements have led many to regard arrangement alongside Scott Hill, Matt Geyer, David him as the best to ever play rugby league. Kidwell and Michael Crocker. • Smith win his first Origin series. For all the successes Smith achieved collectively and as • Smith win his first Dally M Player of the Year medal as an individual, it is dishonest to view his career as a the Storm finish the regular season as minor premiers. perfect picture. • Smith captains the Storm in the 15-8 grand final loss to Brisbane. Coming under fire for a perceived influence over referees, • Smith makes his debut for Australia in the post-season using unnecessary wrestling techniques and being guilty Tri Nations series. by association during the Storm’s salary cap scandal, most damningly, his on-field defence of the tackle that ended Alex 2007: McKinnon’s career was a major error in judgement. • Smith brings up 100 NRL games. • Smith leads the Storm to a 34-8 grand final win While his flaws are evident they should not define him over Manly. as a player. • Smith captains Australia for the first time in the post-season test match against New Zealand. The Right until the whistle sounded on his final game, Smith Kangaroos post a record 58-0 victory over the Kiwis remained the most influential player in the game. with Smith scoring his first try in the green and gold. Rugby league is better for having had Cameron Smith 2008: be a part of it. • Smith accepts an early guilty plea for a grapple tackle in the opening round. Avoiding suspension, he accrues 2002 93 carry-over points meaning any further charge will • At age 18, Smith makes his first grade debut at halfback see him suspended. against the Bulldogs. • Smith captains Queensland, in the absence of Darren Lockyer, to a 2-1 series victory. 2003: • During the Storm’s epic semi final win against Brisbane, • The arrival of Craig Bellamy sees Smith take over from Smith is reported for a grapple tackle on Sam Thaiday. Richard Swain as the Storm’s first choice hooker. Due to carry-over points he receives a two-match ban • After 18 NRL games, Smith makes his debut for after being found guilty at the judiciary. Subsequently, he Queensland in State of Origin III. Smith scores a try in the is ruled out of the side’s 40-0 grand final defeat to Manly. Maroon’s 36-6 victory at Suncorp Stadium. 6 | LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 2 ISSUE 2 NRL Origin International 3 Premierships, 5 Grand Final 11 Series Wins 2 World Cups wins, 4 Minor Premierships 15 Series Played 2 Golden Boot awards 430 matches (320 as captain) 42 matches 56 Tests incl. 17 World Cup matches PROVAN SUMMONS TROPHY 2005 2005 49 wins, 6 losses, 1 draw Wests Wests Tigers Tigers 310 wins, 118 losses, 2 draws 26 wins, 16 losses 2005 2012 Wests Melbourne Tigers Storm 2005 2004 Wests Bulldogs Tigers 2005 2005 Wests 2005 2005 Wests Tigers Wests Wests Tigers Tigers Tigers 2005 2005 Wests 2005 2001 2002 2005 Wests Tigers Wests Newcastle Sydney Wests Tigers Tigers Knights Roosters Tigers 9 tries, 67 goals, 170 points 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 Wests Wests Wests Wests Wests 48 tries, 1295 goals, 2786 points 5 tries, 19 goals, 58 points Tigers Tigers Tigers Tigers Tigers 2009: 2016: • Smith brings up 150 NRL games. • Smith makes 73 tackles in the 14-12 grand final • Smith captains the Storm to a 23-16 grand final win loss to Cronulla. over Parramatta. 2017: 2010: • Smith wins his 11th - and final - State of Origin series • Melbourne are stripped of their titles between 2006 for Queensland. to 2010 - including their two premierships - after being • Smith becomes only the second player to reach found to have systemically cheated the salary cap. In a 350 NRL games. further blow, the side is unable to accrue premiership • Smith surpasses Darren Lockyer’s record of 355 NRL points for the remainder of the season. games to become the most-capped player in NRL history. • An elbow injury sustained in the mid-year test against • Smith wins his second Dally M Player of the Year medal. New Zealand sees Smith miss the opening State of Origin • Smith leads the Storm to a 34-6 grand final win match. Matt Ballin becomes the only player to wear over North Queensland. the number nine jersey for Queensland during Smith’s • Smith captains Australia to victory in the World Cup representative career. on home soil. 2011: 2018: • Smith becomes the second Melbourne player after Matt • Smith is sin-binned for the first time in his career. Geyer to play 200 NRL games. • Smith announces his representative retirement. He • With a roster made up of discards and emerging talent, finishes with 42 Origins for Queensland and 56 tests Smith leads the Storm to the minor premiership a year for Australia. after the salary cap scandal. • Smith captains the Storm in the 21-6 grand final loss to the Sydney Roosters. 2012: • Smith takes over from Darren Lockyer as captain of 2019: Australia and Queensland. • Smith becomes the highest point-scorer in NRL history. • Smith captains the Storm to a 14-4 grand final win • Smith is lauded as the first player to achieve over Canterbury-Bankstown. 400 NRL games. 2013: 2020: • Smith brings up 250 NRL games. • Smith unknowingly plays his final home match at • Smith captains Australia to victory in the World Cup. AAMI Park. Following a COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria, the Storm relocate to the Sunshine Coast for the 2014: remainder of the season. • Smith kicks the first field goal of his career to defeat • Smith surpasses Craig Bellamy’s try-scoring record. Manly in golden point during the opening round. Bellamy humorously ‘flips the bird’ in response. • Smith comes under fire for his immediate on-field • Smith scores a crucial try to lead the Storm to a response after Newcastle forward Alex McKinnon 26-20 grand final win over Penrith. suffers a career-ending neck injury. 2021: 2015: • A day before the season commences, Smith announces • Smith becomes the first Melbourne player to reach his retirement alongside Billy Slater as the pair are 300 NRL games. He becomes the 24th man in the honoured with statues outside AAMI Park. game’s history to achieve the feat. LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 2 ISSUE 2 | 7 .