https://www.canberratimes.com.au/sport/nrl/smith-soldiers-on-to-2020-and-possibly-beyond-20190110-p50qmu.html

Smith soldiers on, to 2020 and possibly beyond

By Roy Ward   10 January 2019 — 3:47pm

 

Cameron Smith plans to still be playing in the NRL in 2020.   But as he said it out loud to media on Thursday,  even he had to laugh.

Smith is 35 and just 16 games from playing his 400th NRL game.   No one has ever reached that milestone, and possibly no one will match it, either.

 

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"If that means you play for less than you could possibly get elsewhere then that's what you do – it's not about being selfish and some people can be at times but at this organisation it is all about being selfless and having players around you that let you compete."

 

Smith is last man standing at Storm from that generation and while he is still hurting after last season's grand final loss to the Roosters, he is more mindful of his younger teammates who lost their first decider.

 

Smith has won four grand finals and lost three but still wants more. He sees plenty of improvement in his side.

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The right stuff...  for Our young Demons outfit to adopt as we start to make some headway into topline footy, since many long years at the bottom of the heap.

I hope our young leaders are taking close note of the Melbourne Storm, and their winning culture.

For the Storm to keep performing year after year in what is a NRL backwater is a credit to them. You have to respect what Craig Bellamy has achieved. They have pretty much been the Lions of the early 2000s but maintained it

Cam Smith is a star

Money might have something to do with it.

8 hours ago, FarNorthernD said:

For the Storm to keep performing year after year in what is a NRL backwater is a credit to them. You have to respect what Craig Bellamy has achieved. They have pretty much been the Lions of the early 2000s but maintained it

Cam Smith is a star

Totally agree. They have been relentless. No rebuilds just high performing year after year.

They must have built a fantastic culture into their club.

I'm up in NSW and everyone hates them because they keep winning but everyone respects them.

We should be learning as much as we can from them.

Would love to have the same respect.

10 hours ago, DV8 said:

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/sport/nrl/smith-soldiers-on-to-2020-and-possibly-beyond-20190110-p50qmu.html

Cameron Smith plans to still be playing in the NRL in 2020.   But as he said it out loud to media on Thursday,  even he had to laugh.

Smith is 35 and just 16 games from playing his 400th NRL game.   No one has ever reached that milestone, and possibly no one will match it, either.

"If that means you play for less than you could possibly get elsewhere then that's what you do – it's not about being selfish and some people can be at times but at this organisation it is all about being selfless and having players around you that let you compete."

 

Smith is a great player & leader but in this instance I'm not so sure he is being selfless.

He held the Storm over a barrel to get the 2 years when logic (and Storm) says it should have been a one year deal at his age.

I guess if someone deserves the right to be a little selfish it's Cam,.

Just don't believe the spin....

Just an incredible sporting club. Finals appearances each year for the last decade or so with the exception of 2010 due to points stripped, even then their record that year was enough to make it into the finals. Multiple GF appearances, a coach that boasts the highest win percentage in the game and these stats don’t tell the whole story behind their success.

The ability over the years to get the best out of players in the twilight of their careers has been nothing short of amazing. 

As for Cam Smith, nothing but admiration, what a leader and player. I read a while back in one of his seasons he only made 10 errors. 

4 hours ago, rjay said:

Smith is a great player & leader but in this instance I'm not so sure he is being selfless.

He held the Storm over a barrel to get the 2 years when logic (and Storm) says it should have been a one year deal at his age.

I guess if someone deserves the right to be a little selfish it's Cam,.

Just don't believe the spin....

I see the glass half full approach.

At a time when the club has been losing its past hero's to retirement, he is the one lasting leader who can hold that values and culture together, as the younger players start to flex their muscles.

This is a time when clubs can go off-rail, and young players Ego's can drift them off track.   Wrecking the hand-me-down culture.

Smith is the one player who can further continue in his role, & holding the theme and maintaining the standards that have been set within the great club.

 

Maintaining the strong culture isn't something that just exists as it ever was..