Cameron Smith retires from State of Origin!
Cameron Smith has dropped a massive bomb shell by today retiring effective immediately from representative football and in the process ruling himself out of this years State of Origin Series. Kevvie Walters and team Maroon would have been blind sided by this and now will go in to the series without Smith, Cronk and Thurston all retiring in the same year. Smith holds pretty much every Origin record there is and has been arguably behind Wally Lewis the greatest ever in this arena.
Where QLD go to for the hooker position from here is the burning question on everyone in Rugby Leagues lips. The most obvious candidates would appear to be Andrew McCulloch from the Brisbane Broncos and Jake Friend from the Sydney Roosters. Friend has been in underwhelming form for most of the year with the Roosters and McCulloch on the comeback trail this year from a serious knee injury has also battled other injuries.
Whichever way they go QLD have now been robbed of basically there whole spine of the last 10 years, if they can still win this series it will be considered there greatest achievement in there reign of dominance spanning the last 12 years. NSW will really fancy there chances now and will see it possibly as a now or never opportunity to wrestle back State pride. It is somewhat intriguing that Smith waited until this close to Origin to announce his retirement but i suppose if anyone has earned this right it is him. All of QLD salute you Cameron as one of the greatest Origin players in the States illustrious history.
I hope you all enjoyed this post, please go ahead and comment and uvpote if you did, would love to hear from you all.
Never been a massive follower of League, though keep half an eye on Storm results as a Victorian(now living in Tassie). Smith has been one of the greats though, you can tell that by how much NSW fans love to rip into him.
Yeah mate he is ridiculously good, maybe Luke Hodge or someone of that ilk is his equivalent in AFL.
I don't rate Hodge as fit to clean his boots, but I take your point that he is one of the game's greats. Future immortal?
Incredible work I hope you follow me as I will do I hope to have your support!
Smith is dropping in respect every year. Very late for him to drop this bomb and other controversies are showing some true colour.
Can't have Jake Friend. Reckon McCullogh is a shoe in being from a QLD franchise and with combos with other players. Friend is in rubbish form.
Agreed mate its a very late call but as a Queenslander he has done so much in Origin its hard to hold a grudge.
Not holding a grudge. I think he's just tarnishing his legacy a bit which is a shame.