Cameron Smith

Durable Cameron Smith was the complete footballer, with his clever dummy half play; copybook defence; magnificent kicking game and intuitive attack. His consistency almost defied belief.

A Logan Brothers junior, he followed in the footsteps of his father, Wayne, who played hooker for Easts and Wynnum Manly in the Brisbane competition.

Cameron began his senior career with Melbourne feeder club, Norths Devils, when he worked as an apprentice printer. He had been spotted by Storm staffer, Anthony Griffin, playing at a state carnival in Rockhampton.

Smith was advised to sign with Melbourne because it appeared Luke Priddis had a mortgage on the hooking role at the Broncos.

Smith played two full seasons at Norths, captaining the club, and playing alongside fellow Maroons legends, Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Greg Inglis.

In 2002, Smith made his NRL debut for Melbourne against the Bulldogs at Olympic Park, playing at halfback, with Kiwi international, Richard Swain in the hooking role.

Former Test halfback, Mark Murray was coach in 2002, but Craig Bellamy took over the following year and was a constant in Smith's life.

Smith moved to hooker for the Storm in 2003 and was chosen to make his State of Origin debut, after only 18 NRL games, going on to become Queensland's greatest servant.

PJ Marsh played hooker in the first game of the 2003 series, but injury ruled him out of contention for the return match, so the selectors tried second rower / lock, Michael Crocker in the crucial position.

They took a punt on Smith for Game III, and he was named Players' Player. The rest, as they say, is history.

When Smith retired from representative football at the end of the 2017 season, he had played a record 42 matches for Queensland, 21 as skipper.

He also had won seven man of the match awards, one less than Wally Lewis, who holds the record for both states.

He’s a once-in-a-generation type player. He has changed the way the nine role is played.

Johnathan Thurston FOG #148

Smith scored five tries and kicked 19 goals in his Origin career, and was part of 11 series wins, a record. Smith surpassed Lockyer as the most capped player in Origin history in Game I of the 2016 series, making a game-high 53 tackles in the process.

Smith played 56 Tests for Australia, second only to Lockyer, who played 59 Tests. Smith also captained his country 33 times, again, second only to Lockyer (38).

Smith holds the record for the most consecutive matches for Australia - 40, between 2009 and 2017.

In 2017, he was at the helm of the Kangaroos when they took out the World Cup on the first Saturday in December. He also was awarded the Golden Boot as 2017 International Player of the Year.

Smith was named Storm captain in 2006 and that same year won the Dally M Medal as NRL Player of the Year. Melbourne were beaten in the grand final by Brisbane, but Smith's year finished on a high, with his Australian Test debut.

He squared off with NSW hooker, Danny Buderus in 16 consecutive Origins from 2003 to 2008, with Buderus holding a mortgage on the Australian number 9 jersey, until he sat out the 2006 Tri-Nations tournament, allowing Smith to take an iron grip on the job.

Smith captained Queensland in 2008, in the absence of the injured Lockyer, and took on the role fulltime in 2012, following Lockyer's retirement.

Smith captained the Storm to grand final wins in 2007, 2009, 2012 and 2017. He missed the 2008 grand final loss to Manly because of suspension.

In June 2019, Smith became the first player to reach 400 NRL games, finishing his career the following year with 430 games to his credit.

He also has scored more points (2786) than any other player in NRL history.

Smith won the Melbourne Storm Player of the Year Award eight times, and the Dally M Award twice.

His final game was Melbourne's 26-20 win over Penrith in the 2020 NRL grand final, when he scored a try and kicked five goals.

There is a statue of Cameron Smith outside the Storm's home ground in Melbourne.