Queensland's loss was Melbourne Storm's gain.
The decision by the Storm skipper to retire from representative football saw him play 26 NRL games in 2018 - the equal most appearances he has made in a single year during his 17-year career.
Smith showcased his trademark consistency to lead Melbourne to a third consecutive Grand Final appearance.
The 35-year-old also continued his record-breaking ways when, on the biggest stage, he made his 36th finals appearance - the most in NRL history.
Smith has now taken his NRL games record tally to an incredible 383 games - moving 28 games clear of Darren Lockyer who sits in second place (355).
The captain produced a lasting highlight in Round 16 when he slotted a long-range field goal to give Storm a one-point win over the Sydney Roosters at the Adelaide Oval.
| Games played | Tackles made | Points | Conversions | Kick metres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 1,056 | 201 | 82.35% | 3,777 |
