Melbourne Storm congratulates its captain Cameron Smith on his remarkable representative career after the champion hooker today announced his immediate retirement from representative rugby league.
The 34-year-old has called time on his illustrious career for Queensland and Australia, meaning he will not play in the 2018 State of Origin series.
Having come to the end of representative football, Smith can now rightly take his seat amongst the greatest players to ever pull on the Maroon and Green and Gold jerseys.
Since making his Queensland debut in 2003, Smith has gone on to become the most capped player in State of Origin history, making 42 appearances for his state. His 24 wins for Queensland are also the most of any player in Origin history.
A four-time Wally Lewis medallist (Queensland player of the series), Smith's total of 11 series wins is a record he now shares with fellow Maroons great Jonathan Thurston.
Since taking over as Queensland captain in 2012, Smith guided his state to five series wins in six years.
His accomplishments in the green and gold were equally remarkable.
Smith played 56 games for Australia, second only to Darren Lockyer (59) and was named captain of the national team in 2007, one year after making his Test debut.
From there he led the Kangaroos on an unprecedented run of success that included three Four Nations victories and two World Cup triumphs, the last of which came on home soil back in December.
On four occasions Smith has been named the Dally M Representative Player of the Year - 2007, 2011, 2013, 2016.
Melbourne Storm CEO Dave Donaghy paid tribute to Smith following the announcement:
"Cameron's name will now rightfully sit alongside the likes of Wally Lewis, Darren Lockyer and Mal Meninga as one of the greatest players to ever represent Queensland and Australia.
"For the last 15 consecutive years he has been able to not only perform but excel in the representative arena which is an unmatched accomplishment that sees Cameron deserve all the accolades he has earned along the way.
"Cameron has been a standout ambassador at all levels of our game and has always represented his Club, his state and his country with the upmost class, distinction and respect.
"We congratulate Cameron's wife Barbara and their children Jada, Jasper and Matilda on being there every step of the journey and the support they have given him."
Cameron Smith - Representative career
Australia
- Tests 56 (2006-17)
- 33 Tests as captain (2007-17)
- Tri-Nations 2006
- World Cup 2008, 2013, 2017
- Four Nations 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016
- Captained Australia to World Cup victory 2013, 2017
- Junior Kangaroos 2001, 2002
Queensland
- State of Origins 42 (2003-17)
- Queensland Emerging Origin 2002-03
- Queensland Under-19s: 2001, 2002
- Other information:
- Wally Lewis Medallist 2007, 2011, 2013, 2016
- Dally M Representative Player of the Year 2007, 2011, 2013
- Harry Sunderland Medallist: 2014, 2017
- Most State of Origin appearances - 42
- Most State of Origin wins - 24
- Most State of Origin series wins - 11
- Second most Tests for Australia - 56
- Represented NRL All Stars 2010, 2011, 2013;
- World All Stars 2016
Representative Round, 2017
Cameron became only the second Australian player to appear in 50 Test matches when Australia played New Zealand at GIO Stadium. Only Darren Lockyer, with 59, has played more.
State of Origin I, 2017
Cameron became the first player to play 40 State of Origin games when he lined up against New South Wales in the opening game of the series at Suncorp Stadium. Smith debuted in Game 3, 2003.
State of Origin III, 2017
Cameron played his 20th Origin game at Suncorp Stadium, equalling the record of Maroons Immortal Wally Lewis.
