#2 Cameron Smith
2012 was yet another fantastic year in the illustrious career of the 29 year old Melbourne rake. Inheriting the captaincy of both Queensland and Australia after the retirement of the great Darren Lockyer, Smith lead all of his teams to glory. Captaining Australia to an ANZAC Test victory over New Zealand, captaining Queensland to another State of Origin series victory, captaining Melbourne to what would be his "legitimate' NRL Premiership, and captaining the Storm to a WCC victory over Leeds. Everything that was on offer to Smith and the teams that followed his lead was added to the trophy cabinet, and Smith himself would pick up another piece to add to his collection being named the Dally M Hooker of the Year. As usual, Smith would pile up points and pile up tackles, notching 164 points, 78 coming off his boot, along with 917 tackles. After the Storm were stripped of their previous Premierships that Smith had lead them to, 2012 was the sweetest year of Smith's career, silencing the critics and being a winner in all facets.
Apparently the Poms like giving out big trophies for trial games
Now the previous few entrants, and indeed many earlier in the list, have had some fabulous credentials, but Smith takes it to a new level and is already regarded by many as the greatest hooker to ever play the game. Taking a look at Smith's list of personal accomplishments...
- 2005 Ron McAullife Medal
- 2006 Dally M Hooker of the Year
- 2006 Dally M Player of the Year
- 2007 Dally M Representative Player of the Year
- 2007 Golden Boot Award
- 2007 Ron McAullife Medal
- 2007 Wally Lewis Medal
- 2008 Dally M Hooker of the Year
- 2008 RLIF Hooker of the Year
- 2009 RLIF Hooker of the Year
- 2011 Dally M Captain of the Year
- 2011 Dally M Hooker of the Year
- 2011 Dally M Representative Player of the Year
- 2011 RLIF Hooker of the Year
- 2011 Wally Lewis Medal
- 2012 Dally M Hooker of the Year
and he'd be odds on favourite to add to that list of Hooker of the Year awards in 2013 also. Smith has been part of a winning environment everywhere he has taken his talents since becoming a professional. In 29 appearances for Australia, the Kangaroos have a winning percentage of 86.21, in 27 appearances for Queensland the Maroons have a winner percentage of 80, and in 238 appearances for Melbourne, the Storm have a winner percentage of 70.59. In the 11 seasons Smith has been in the NRL, Melbourne has never lost more games than they've won with Smith playing, the closest being a 50% record in Smith's first moments on the scene back in 2002 when the Storm won one and lost one in his two games. Of course League is a team game, and one man can't be attributed all that success, but it's a great testament to Smith that he has won everywhere he has been and for so long.
Celebrating "200 games" gets you an extra long montage
In my post on Cooper Cronk, I touched on how he at times played in such a "robotic" fashion, but he has nothing on Smith. Smith is like something the Japanese developed in the future and sent back in time to provide an efficient Rugby League performance. He's all business when on the field, focussed, calculated, determined. One of the fittest players in Rugby League, he plays 80 minutes for a warm up, and is heavily involved during that time, constantly making plays out of dummy half and one of the most prolific tacklers in the business. Every year around Origin time we start to hear stories about how "Smith may get rested" or "Smith has been through such a big workload he needs a break", and every year it seems Smith comes out and, like the machine he is, just continues to put in work. There's nothing external that has any impact on Smith's game and concepts like fatigue or resting your body have no relevance when you're talking about a robot. Many sports have teams or players that are so good it becomes boring, Smith is that guy. He is so good but does it in such a fundamental way, there's no flash to his game, he's like the Tim Duncan of Rugby League, doing the basics well supported by a great understanding of the game and endless dedication.
So then Craig suggested maybe we reduce my minutes around Origin
Smith's durability and fitness extends beyond just his ability to play 80 minutes week in week out. In one of the worlds most high impact sports, Smith has has never played less than 20 games for Melbourne since his début 2 game season. A remarkable feat considering the added workload of Origin and International Duty that he puts himself through. Since his first turn out for Queensland in Stage of Origin game 3 2003, Smith has missed just one Origin contest, but as I said, this is a robot we are dealing with. Smith's game isn't based off athletic gifts, he isn't exceptionally fast or strong or agile. But he is as fit as anyone in the competition and the smartest player in the NRL to go with it. Defensively, he is a tackle machine, and his great understanding of the game sees him quickly figure out what opposing attacks are trying to achieve. On attack, Smith blends the skills of a five-eighth and a hooker to perfection. A fabulous kicking game with ambidextrous feet, he launches very precise kicks out of dummy half when he sees a weakness in the defense or wants to take the pressure off his halves. His ability to read the game sees him often putting little kicks over the top of the defense for his backs to run on to, but he doesn't force the issue, he does it at the right time. Smith's game is so calculated that everything he does is done in just that fashion. He doesn't rely on athletic ability, he relies on making the right decisions. He makes great runs out of dummy half, but it's because he makes those runs when he senses weakness, when he sees the opportunity to take advantage. His delivery out of dummy half is excellent, he very, very rarely let's a pass get away from him and again his brain let's him see plays develop and make the right passes at the right time. He may not have the showy passes of a Benji Marshall, but the results are often the same, Smith makes the skip pass or the inside ball or the short ball, based on what he has read in the defense and formulating the right option. The foundation of the Storm's so perfectly structured attack is the games smartest player having his hands on the ball first and having his hands on the ball often. Let's not forget that he's also a very useful goal kicker, slotting a career average of 72.38 of his attempts at goal.
Surprise
Check back in tomorrow when finally we get to number 1. Though you've probably figured it out by now, I'll do my best to try to make it interesting regardless. I'm looking forward to a hard day at work tomorrow changing my Dream Team 50 times and as always if you have any comments I'm on Twitter @WellsNorthShore
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