Cameron Smith has been hailed as an “undisputed legend” of rugby league after the Melbourne Storm great finally announced his retirement from the sport on the eve of the new NRL season.
Smith, widely regarded as one of the greatest players the game has ever seen, ends his 19-year professional career as a one-club man, having made his debut for the Storm in 2002 before going on to play a record 430 games and win three premierships.
He said he only made the decision to call time last week and thought that Wednesday’s unveiling of a statue of him outside AAMI Park was a good opportunity to deliver the news.
“I’ve spent a few months up in Queensland with the family and had really good opportunities to think over my thoughts on playing on or not,” Smith said on Wednesday.
“I look back on my career and found I was very fortunate to be part of a wonderful organisation filled with many great footballers and great people and it felt like the right time to finish off the back of what was a very successful season last year.”
The topic of Smith’s future has been the focus of speculation since last year’s grand final, with suggestions he would end his career by making a move back to his home state of Queensland with either Brisbane or Gold Coast.
But Smith, 37, steadfastly refused to reveal his plans and his future remained unclear until the club issued a statement on Wednesday morning.
“Cam is not only among the most decorated players the game has ever seen, he made an immeasurable contribution to our club on and off the field, and his legacy will be remembered in Melbourne forever,” the club tweeted.
He is the last to retire of Melbourne’s so-called “Big Three”, that included Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater, who were so integral to the club’s sustained success. Slater’s statue, also unveiled Wednesday, sits alongside Smith’s.
Smith holds the NRL record for the most points scored with 2,786, including 14 in last year’s grand final. Among his other honours are two Dally M medals, in 2006 and 2017, and two Golden Boot awards, for the player adjudged to be the best in the world, in 2007 and 2017.
“Cameron is an undisputed legend of our sport and his records may never be broken,’’ Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys said. “Year after year Cameron defied age and science to remain arguably the best player in the competition.
“In many ways today is a historic moment for our game. So many of our young fans have never witnessed an NRL season without Cameron Smith. His contribution to the game will last generations.”
Playing in eight grand finals, Smith steered the Storm to NRL premierships in 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017 and 2020, although the first two titles were later stripped for salary-cap breaches.
The durable hooker was also instrumental in Queensland’s eight-year State of Origin reign between 2006 and 2013, while he was represented Australia from 2006 until his retirement from representative football at the end of 2017. Named the permanent Kangaroos captain in 2012, he played in 56 Tests, winning 49.
“We have one of the fastest and toughest competitions in the world, with some of the world’s best athletes,” NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said. “Today we celebrate the end of the playing career of one of the most successful, versatile and dedicated players and leaders to have ever played the game.
“He has led winning teams for premierships, State of Origin series and World Cups, and won the Dally M medal twice. Thank you for your contribution to the game we all love. Your feats will be part of our rich history forever.”
Follow the 2021 NRL season opener on Thursday night with Guardian Australia’s liveblog of the match between Melbourne Storm and South Sydney Rabbitohs. Kick-off is 8:05pm AEDT
