Cameron Smith
Encyclopedia
Cameron Smith is an Australian professional rugby league
footballer who currently captains the Melbourne Storm
of the National Rugby League
. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative hooker, he has played his whole NRL career to date with the Storm with whom he won the 2006 Dally M Medal
and the 2007
and 2009
NRL grand final
s. In 2007 Smith was awarded both the Wally Lewis Medal (as the State of Origin
's player of the series) and the Golden Boot
award (as the world's best international player). He also shares the same birthday as fellow club, state and country teammate Billy Slater
.
. After scoring 188 points for the Norths Devils
in the Queensland Cup
he moved up to the NRL
with the Melbourne Storm
club.
In 2003 the Queensland rugby league team
were without a specialist hooker. After experimenting with different players in the position for the first two matched of the series and losing both, Smith was named at hooker for the third match and until and including the final match of the 2009 series, no other player has worn the number 9 for the Maroons. Smith's run of 19 consecutive Origins was cut after his elbow injury forced him to miss the opening match of the 2010 series. He was replaced by Manly's Matt Ballin
, but Smith's absence did not seem to have an effect on the Maroons as they won 28-24 over New South Wales.
Later becoming captain of his club, Smith led the storm to the 2006 NRL Grand Final. While the game was still in the balance he was forced from the field with injury, which the Storm's loss has been largely attributed to.
For the 2007 State of Origin series Smith took out both the Wally Lewis Medal for player of the series and Ron Mcauliffe Medal for Queensland player of the series. He also captained the Maroons for the entire 2008 series due to the absence of regular captain Darren Lockyer
. The Maroons won the series with him as the skipper, despite losing the first match 18-10.
Smith captained the Melbourne Storm in their 34–8 victory over the Manly Sea Eagles in the 2007 NRL Grand Final. hooker he is also the first-choice goal kicker for the Melbourne Storm and is left footed.
In August 2008, Smith was named in the preliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
, and in October 2008 he was selected in the final 24-man Australia squad.
Cameron was controversially suspended for two weeks in the 2008 finals series after a grapple tackle on Brisbane's Sam Thaiday. The suspension would have only been one week had he not had carry over points from a previous grapple tackle in round 1 of the year's competition. This meant he was suspended for Melbourne's 2008 grand final.The suspension was blown up by the media after the game and was responsible for the Melbourne Storm CEO, Brian Waldron, and coach, Craig Bellamy, claiming the judiciary had made their minds up before Cameron's case was heard. The judiciary panel members then threatened to sue the club if the comments were not retracted.
Cameron signed a four year extension to his contract in December 2008, resulting in him being a contracted player through to the end of at least the 2012 season. His contract is rumoured to be partly funded by third party sponsors who do not contribute to the standard salary cap.
In April 2009, he was named in the preliminary 25 man squad to represent Queensland in the opening State of Origin
match for 2009. He was selected for Australia in the one-off test match against New Zealand
on 8 May 2009.
In the preliminary final in which Melbourne thrashed Brisbane
40–10, he became Storm's highest ever point scorer, beating Matt Orford's record of 877. Smith led the Storm in their 2009 NRL Grand Final
victory over the Parramatta Eels
.
At the end of the season he joined the Kangaroos on their campaign to win the 2009 Four Nations tournament in England. He scored the try that saved Australia from losing in the opening match and also scored in the Kangaroos' victory against England in the final.
In 2010 he played in the 2010 World Club Challenge
at halfback in the absence of his usual halfback Cooper Cronk
due to injury. Smith kicked 5 goals and was named man of match.
He is now the Melbourne Storm's most experienced playing player due to the retirement of Matt Geyer
at the end of 2008. He is the only current Storm player in the squad who played under Mark Murray
as well as the only one to have played in a season when the Storm did not make the finals due to their performance (the Storm finished 10th in 2002, the year Smith made his debut).
Smith played in the 2010 Anzac Test
. For the first time since Game II of the 2003 Origin series, Smith wasn't wearing the No 9 for Queensland, after he failed to overcome the elbow injury he sustained playing in that Test. He was replaced by Matt Ballin
.
In Round 26 of the 2010 NRL season
Smith became the first Melbourne Storm player to reach 1000 points after successfully converting Ryan Hinchcliffe
's try.
Smith played in the 42-0 thrashing of the Papua New Guinea national rugby league team
during the 2010 Four Nations. It was a game where he converted 5 tries and scored once. He was later named man of the match.
Smith was named man-of-the-match in Queensland's win in Game I and later Game III of the 2011 State of Origin series
, subsequently resulting in his naming as the Wally Lewis medal winning man-of-the-series.
On 3 November 2011 The annual RLIF Awards
dinner was held at the Tower of London
and Smith was named Hooker of the year.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer who currently captains the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
of the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative hooker, he has played his whole NRL career to date with the Storm with whom he won the 2006 Dally M Medal
Dally M Medal
The Dally M Medal is the premier individual award in the Australian rugby league competition, which is given to the player voted by sports commentators as the best and fairest in the competition for that year....
and the 2007
2007 NRL grand final
The 2007 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive, premiership-deciding match of the 2007 NRL season. Played between the first-placed Melbourne Storm and second-placed Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Telstra Stadium on September 30, in front of 81,392 spectators. It was the fourth NRL Grand Final played...
and 2009
2009 NRL Grand Final
The 2009 NRL Grand Final was a rugby league football game played on 4 October 2009 at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney. It was the 12th annual championship game of the National Rugby League staged to decide the premiers of the 2009 NRL season....
NRL grand final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
s. In 2007 Smith was awarded both the Wally Lewis Medal (as the State of Origin
State of Origin
State of Origin is the name used in Australia for one existing sporting event which involves domestic representative teams. The term, when used in isolation, usually refers to rugby league football, and occassionally Australian Football matches, in which players are selected for the Australian...
's player of the series) and the Golden Boot
Rugby League World Golden Boot Award
The Rugby League World Golden Boot Award is a rugby league award handed out annually for achievements in rugby league by Rugby League World magazine...
award (as the world's best international player). He also shares the same birthday as fellow club, state and country teammate Billy Slater
Billy Slater
Billy Slater is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative fullback, he has played his whole NRL career to date at Melbourne...
.
Playing career
As a youth smith was hooker for the Logan Brothers Junior Rugby League Club, Logan City, Queensland. There he attended Marsden State High SchoolMarsden State High School
Marsden State High School is a secondary school in Logan City, Queensland for students between years 8 and 12. Marsden State High School is located on Muchow Road between the suburbs of Marsden and Waterford West. The school was established in 1987 and—as of 2008—has 1,900...
. After scoring 188 points for the Norths Devils
Norths Devils
The Northern Suburbs Devils, Norths for short, are a rugby league club representing the northern suburbs of Brisbane, Australia. The team colours are sky blue, navy blue and gold. They play in the Queensland Wizard Cup, and, through their predecessors, are one of the oldest clubs in...
in the Queensland Cup
Queensland Cup
The Queensland Cup is the premier rugby league football competition in the State of Queensland, Australia.It is a statewide competition with the majority of teams based in South East Queensland but also including sides based in Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton.The competition began in 1996 as a...
he moved up to the NRL
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
with the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
club.
In 2003 the Queensland rugby league team
Queensland rugby league team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
were without a specialist hooker. After experimenting with different players in the position for the first two matched of the series and losing both, Smith was named at hooker for the third match and until and including the final match of the 2009 series, no other player has worn the number 9 for the Maroons. Smith's run of 19 consecutive Origins was cut after his elbow injury forced him to miss the opening match of the 2010 series. He was replaced by Manly's Matt Ballin
Matt Ballin
Matthew Ballin is a professional rugby league player who currently plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League . He primarily plays at hooker.-Early years:...
, but Smith's absence did not seem to have an effect on the Maroons as they won 28-24 over New South Wales.
Later becoming captain of his club, Smith led the storm to the 2006 NRL Grand Final. While the game was still in the balance he was forced from the field with injury, which the Storm's loss has been largely attributed to.
For the 2007 State of Origin series Smith took out both the Wally Lewis Medal for player of the series and Ron Mcauliffe Medal for Queensland player of the series. He also captained the Maroons for the entire 2008 series due to the absence of regular captain Darren Lockyer
Darren Lockyer
Darren Lockyer is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. He was the captain of the Australian national team, the Queensland State of Origin team and his National Rugby League club, the Brisbane Broncos. His professional career spanned between 1995 and 2011...
. The Maroons won the series with him as the skipper, despite losing the first match 18-10.
Smith captained the Melbourne Storm in their 34–8 victory over the Manly Sea Eagles in the 2007 NRL Grand Final. hooker he is also the first-choice goal kicker for the Melbourne Storm and is left footed.
In August 2008, Smith was named in the preliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
, and in October 2008 he was selected in the final 24-man Australia squad.
Cameron was controversially suspended for two weeks in the 2008 finals series after a grapple tackle on Brisbane's Sam Thaiday. The suspension would have only been one week had he not had carry over points from a previous grapple tackle in round 1 of the year's competition. This meant he was suspended for Melbourne's 2008 grand final.The suspension was blown up by the media after the game and was responsible for the Melbourne Storm CEO, Brian Waldron, and coach, Craig Bellamy, claiming the judiciary had made their minds up before Cameron's case was heard. The judiciary panel members then threatened to sue the club if the comments were not retracted.
Cameron signed a four year extension to his contract in December 2008, resulting in him being a contracted player through to the end of at least the 2012 season. His contract is rumoured to be partly funded by third party sponsors who do not contribute to the standard salary cap.
In April 2009, he was named in the preliminary 25 man squad to represent Queensland in the opening State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
match for 2009. He was selected for Australia in the one-off test match against New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
on 8 May 2009.
In the preliminary final in which Melbourne thrashed Brisbane
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
40–10, he became Storm's highest ever point scorer, beating Matt Orford's record of 877. Smith led the Storm in their 2009 NRL Grand Final
2009 NRL Grand Final
The 2009 NRL Grand Final was a rugby league football game played on 4 October 2009 at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney. It was the 12th annual championship game of the National Rugby League staged to decide the premiers of the 2009 NRL season....
victory over the Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
.
At the end of the season he joined the Kangaroos on their campaign to win the 2009 Four Nations tournament in England. He scored the try that saved Australia from losing in the opening match and also scored in the Kangaroos' victory against England in the final.
In 2010 he played in the 2010 World Club Challenge
2010 World Club Challenge
-Teams:-Match details:-First half:Leeds almost scored early in the first half when Brent Webb ran over but he was held up by Luke MacDougall on the last tackle. Soon after they posted the first points with a penalty goal to captain Kevin Sinfield. Soon after Melbourne drew level with a penalty goal...
at halfback in the absence of his usual halfback Cooper Cronk
Cooper Cronk
Cooper Patrick Cronk is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently playing for the Melbourne Storm of the NRL...
due to injury. Smith kicked 5 goals and was named man of match.
He is now the Melbourne Storm's most experienced playing player due to the retirement of Matt Geyer
Matt Geyer
Matt Geyer is an Australian rugby league footballer for the Norths Devils in the Queensland Cup. A New South Wales State of Origin representative winger, he played his club football primarily with the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League competition, winning premierships with them in 1999...
at the end of 2008. He is the only current Storm player in the squad who played under Mark Murray
Mark Murray (rugby league)
Mark Murray is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He represented Australia in test matches and Queensland in the State of Origin. His position of choice was halfback...
as well as the only one to have played in a season when the Storm did not make the finals due to their performance (the Storm finished 10th in 2002, the year Smith made his debut).
Smith played in the 2010 Anzac Test
2010 ANZAC Test
The 2010 ANZAC Test was a rugby league test match played between Australia and New Zealand on 7 May 2010. The match coincided with the official opening of AAMI Park in Melbourne. The match was won by Australia with a score of 12–8.-The teams:...
. For the first time since Game II of the 2003 Origin series, Smith wasn't wearing the No 9 for Queensland, after he failed to overcome the elbow injury he sustained playing in that Test. He was replaced by Matt Ballin
Matt Ballin
Matthew Ballin is a professional rugby league player who currently plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League . He primarily plays at hooker.-Early years:...
.
In Round 26 of the 2010 NRL season
2010 NRL season
The 2010 NRL season was the 103rd season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the thirteenth run by the National Rugby League. The season commenced on 12 March and ended with the Grand Final, played on 3 October at ANZ Stadium...
Smith became the first Melbourne Storm player to reach 1000 points after successfully converting Ryan Hinchcliffe
Ryan Hinchcliffe
Ryan Hinchcliffe is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the NRL. Hinchliffe began his NRL career at Parramatta. He previously played for the Canberra Raiders before moving to the Storm, with whom he won the 2009 NRL Premiership.Ryan Hinchcliffe is a hooker...
's try.
Smith played in the 42-0 thrashing of the Papua New Guinea national rugby league team
Papua New Guinea national rugby league team
The Papua New Guinea national rugby league team represents Papua New Guinea internationally in the sport of rugby league football.In Papua New Guinea, Rugby league is highly popular and is regarded as the country’s national sport. The national side are known as the Kumuls...
during the 2010 Four Nations. It was a game where he converted 5 tries and scored once. He was later named man of the match.
Smith was named man-of-the-match in Queensland's win in Game I and later Game III of the 2011 State of Origin series
2011 State of Origin series
The 2011 State of Origin series was the 30th annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams contested under "State of Origin" selection rules. Game I was played in Brisbane, Game II was played in Sydney and...
, subsequently resulting in his naming as the Wally Lewis medal winning man-of-the-series.
On 3 November 2011 The annual RLIF Awards
RLIF Awards
The Rugby League International Federation currently oversees and awards the major international sporting award for rugby league on an annual basis and has done so since its inception in 2004....
dinner was held at the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
and Smith was named Hooker of the year.
Personal Life
Smith has two children, a daughter named Jada who was born in 2008 and a son called Jasper who was born the following year, with his long term partner Barbara "Barb" Johnson.Achievements
- 2005: Ron McAullife Medal
- 2005: Club Player of the Year
- 2006: Dally MDally M MedalThe Dally M Medal is the premier individual award in the Australian rugby league competition, which is given to the player voted by sports commentators as the best and fairest in the competition for that year....
Player of the Year - 2006: Club Player of the Year
- 2007: Wally LewisWally LewisWalter James "Wally" Lewis AM is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. Currently a commentator of the sport, he is widely regarded as the greatest rugby league player of all time...
Medal (State of OriginRugby League State of OriginState of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
) - 2007: Golden Boot AwardRugby League World Golden Boot AwardThe Rugby League World Golden Boot Award is a rugby league award handed out annually for achievements in rugby league by Rugby League World magazine...
International Player of the Year - 2007: NRLNational Rugby LeagueThe National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
– Most points (192) scored ever by a hooker in a season - 2007: Club Player of the Year
- 2011: Wally LewisWally LewisWalter James "Wally" Lewis AM is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. Currently a commentator of the sport, he is widely regarded as the greatest rugby league player of all time...
Medal (State of OriginRugby League State of OriginState of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
) - 2011: Dally MDally M MedalThe Dally M Medal is the premier individual award in the Australian rugby league competition, which is given to the player voted by sports commentators as the best and fairest in the competition for that year....
Captain of the Year - 2011: Dally MDally M MedalThe Dally M Medal is the premier individual award in the Australian rugby league competition, which is given to the player voted by sports commentators as the best and fairest in the competition for that year....
Hooker of the year