Only the rugby league GOAT could pull this off, Cameron Smith confirming himself as the game’s greatest of all time without even breaking into so much as a trot in Melbourne’s stirring NRL grand final triumph.
In an extraordinary stat that symbolises the ageless marvel’s incomparable career, Smith ran just once all night – for a mere three metres – yet sealed the Storm’s 26-20 victory in the process.
The 37-year-old’s first-ever grand final try on the stroke of halftime, after regaining the ball knocked out of his grasp by his Penrith opposite Api Koroisau and planting it down between the posts, was the final nail in the Panthers’ coffin.
A coffin Smith hand-crafted mostly himself.
He topped the Storm’s first-half tackle count and slotted three conversions and two penalty goals to bag more than half his team’s points in a near-flawless 80-minute display.
“I don’t get many (tries) in my career. It was a scrappy one but I’ll take anything I can get. It’s nice to get one in a grand final,” Smith said.
“But just to get the victory tonight after what’s been a challenging year, we’ll take that.”
Yet, for all his heroics, all the focus now is not on his deeds but whether or not the oldest premiership winner in 98 years will hang up the boots.
On this vintage form, it seems like Smith could play on forever.
He refused to even speculate after the match, telling fellow league legend Brad Fittler not to even worry about asking him the question.
But if he does bow out, after a glorious and record-setting 430-game career, the will not only bow out on top but with a CV that may never be matched.
More NRL games and points than any other man, a two-time world player of the year, a dual Dally M Medallist, an 11-times State of Origin series winner with Queensland, two World Cup trophies and now three premierships.
He’s been the most decorated player the game has ever seen.
Only time will tell if fans see him run around again.
Smith has been adamant that winning or losing Sunday’s title decider wouldn’t be the determining factor in his retirement plans.
But more so his growing family is weighing heavily on the father of three.
His oldest daughter Jada is in her first year at high school while son Jasper is 10 and youngest daughter Matilda, eight.
The Storm captain knows every minute away from home playing or training is precious time he will never make up with his cherished children.
Source:: SportsNews
