Posted by RLPA
Smith to join 300 Club
Australian, Queensland and Melbourne Storm captain, Cameron Smith, will this week play in his 300th NRL game, a milestone achieved by only 23 others before him.
Smith’s accomplishment is even more remarkable because he will be only the tenth Player to play 300 games with the one Club.
Rugby League Players Association Chief Executive, David Garnsey, says Smith is truly a once-in-a-lifetime Player.
“In a team game such as rugby league, it is unfair to single one Player out above the others,” said Garnsey. “However, rarely have we seen someone who has had such an influence not just in rugby league but in Australian sport.”
The 32 year old made his NRL debut in 2002 and since then has earned an impressive number of accolades both within the playing group and in the wider rugby league community.
“Cameron’s contribution to rugby league goes well beyond the football field,” said Garnsey. “He is a magnificent ambassador for, and promoter of, the Game and a passionate and articulate advocate on behalf of his fellow Players.
“Cameron is someone who takes a keen interest in both how rugby league is governed and how it is played and he invariably considers a proposal for change or reform through the prism of Player welfare.”
On Friday night Smith will further cement his place in rugby league history when he runs out in front of the Melbourne Storm home crowd at AAMI Park.
“He has not only redefined the role of dummy-half so that he is now universally recognised as one of the Game’s all-time greats, but he has also proved to be a strategically astute and highly successful captain of his Club, State and Country over many years,” said Garnsey. “More than that, he is seemingly able to maintain his composure on the field better than any Player in the Game.
“In a tough, physical environment, he has a unique ability to remain calm in a crisis and to execute with precision when the pressure is at its highest.”
Career Summary *
299 – NRL games
205 – Number of wins, 4th on all time NRL list
119 – Number of wins as captain, 2nd on all time NRL list
1,735 – Total career points scored, 9th all time
791 – Goals
38 – Tries
1 – Field goal
- Melbourne Storm Player of the Year – 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013
- Grand Final victories – 2007, 2009, 2012
- Storm co-captain – 2006, 2007
- Storm captain – 2008 – current
Dally M Awards
- Dally M Player of the Year 2006
- Dally M Hooker of the Year 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013
- Dally M Captain of the Year 2011, 2013
- Dally M Representative Player of the Year 2007, 2011, 2013
Representative Honours
- Australia – 43 Tests (2006-15) including 20 as captain
- Tri-Nations – 2006
- Four Nations – 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014
- Rugby League World Cup – 2008, 2013
- Queensland – 36 games State of Origin (2003-15) equal record holder for most games
- World Club Challenge (Melbourne Storm) – 2010, 2013
- NRL All Stars – 2010, 2011, 2013
- Golden Boot award – 2007
- RLIF International Player of the Year – 2012
- RLIF International Hooker of the Year – 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013
- RLPA Australian Representative Player of the Year – 2013
- Inducted into the RLPA Origin Gold Club in 2010
(* Source: Melbourne Storm current as at 15 July 2015 )