Cameron Smith is IN!
After a week of managing a pectoral injury, Smith’s amazing resilience will see him add another significant milestone to his already decorated career when steps out for his 350th NRL game tomorrow in front of his home crowd at AAMI Park against Manly.
Smith, who already holds Storm’s games record, will become just the third player in NRL history to join the 350-Club, alongside greats Darren Lockyer (355) and Terry Lamb (350).
Recruited from Storm feeder side Brisbane Norths, Smith made his first grade debut in Round 5, 2002.
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He was soon named the Club’s starting hooker, taking over from Richard Swain, and within five seasons he had become Storm’s stand-alone captain.
Since then Smith has been widely regarded as one of the NRL’s elite players, in a career characterised by remarkable consistency, calmness and an innate ability to read the play before it happens.
Already this season the Storm skipper has broken the record for most NRL wins as well as premiership goals kicked.
In Round 2, the 34-year-old became the first forward in the history of the game to score more than 2,000 career points.
In May, Smith was just the second Australian player to appear in 50 test matches and recently made his 42nd appearance in State of Origin, something no other player has done in the history of the game.
Named Dally M Hooker of the Year a record six times, to go along with his six Storm Player of the Year awards, Smith’s upcoming milestone will further solidify his standing as one of the NRL’s greatest ever players.
His 350th game has also coincided with the Club’s 10-year reunion of the 2007 Grand Final winning team, which defeated this week’s opponents Manly 34-8.
A reunion lunch was held on Friday, with the event kicking-off the annual Melbourne Old Boys weekend, which sees past players come together to reminiscence about their playing days in the purple jersey.
As is the case for every MOB weekend, Storm will wear their heritage jersey for tomorrow’s game. This year’s jersey will be a replica of the one worn during that 2007 season. Sunday’s jersey features the names of the 2007 premiership players watermarked on the back and each current player’s Storm debut number embroidered on the lower right side.
Fans are encouraged to use the Club’s official hashtag #CAM350 during the game and to share their favourite Smith moment during his 17-year career.
Cameron Smith records held:
Most Points in a Premiership Season by a Hooker - 194 points in 2016
Most Goals in Premiership History - 960 to the end of Round 20
Most Wins in Premiership History - 245 to the end of Round 20
Most Games as Captain in Premiership History - 246 to the end of Round 20
Most Points in Premiership History by a forward - 2,087 to the end of Round 20
Most State of Origin appearances - 42
Cameron Smith achievements:
Dally M Hooker of the Year 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016
RLIF Hooker of the Year 2008, 2009, 2012
Won Golden Boot award 2007
RLIF Player of the year 2012
Dally M Representative Player of the Year 2007, 2011, 2013
Melbourne Storm Player of the Year 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012 and 2013
Dally M Player of the Year 2006
Wally Lewis Medallist 2007, 2011, 2013, 2016
Queensland Emerging Origin 2002-03
Dally M Captain of the Year 2011, 2013
Harry Sunderland Medal winner 2014
Captained Melbourne’s World Club Challenge-winning teams 2010, 2013
Represented NRL All Stars 2010, 2011, 2013; World All Stars 2016
Top 10 Storm games played:
349 – Cameron Smith
315 – Cooper Cronk
291 – Billy Slater
262 – Matt Geyer
245 – Ryan Hoffman
179 – Kevin Proctor
177 – Scott Hill
175 – Ryan Hinchcliffe
172 – Jesse Bromwich
169 – Robbie Kearns
Top 10 NRL games played:
355 – Darren Lockyer
350 – Terry Lamb
349 – Cameron Smith
349 – Steve Menzies
347 – Corey Parker
336 – Brad Fittler
332 – Cliff Lyons
330 – Nathan Hindmarsh
328 – Andrew Ettinghausen
325 – Geoff Gerard
