Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size There is a tendency in modern action sports to always look to the Adonis figure as the champion, the athlete who dominates the field of play through mind-bending feats of physical superiority. They are bigger, faster, stronger and more agile than their opponents. But peer a little deeper and you will find a competitor who dominates for more subtle reasons; one whose gift of intuition allows them to skip forward several frames while others are still digesting the last play; one who is always in the right place at the perfect time. In the sport of rugby league, that player is Cameron Smith, the record-breaking captain of the Melbourne Storm and former captain of his state, Queensland, and of the Australian side. Nobody in the history of league has played more games and dominated at such an elite level for so long. On the eve of yet another finals series, the now 36-year-old has not slowed, even a fraction, in one of the most physically demanding roles on the field. He continues to confound defences, infuriate rival teams and their fans and, crucially for the Storm, win, win and win some more. Somehow, in the twilight of his career, his superpowers appear to have intensified. What makes Cameron Smith the best player in league? Credit:


How can Smith be so good when he seems so ordinary? Smith grew up in Logan, a city between Brisbane and the Gold Coast that has become a hotbed of rugby league and rugby recruitment due to its large Polynesian population. But while some of the Pacific Island stars of the game have been blessed in the genetic lottery, Smith has been neither the biggest nor the fastest player on his teams. There is no electrifying pace, or bamboozling sidestep. In fact, a pervading sense of ordinariness has stayed with him for his entire career and only embellished his achievements, says his long-time Storm teammate Billy Slater, a now-retired fullback. You don’t even really notice what he’s doing. He’s so influential … a real silent assassin. "If you grabbed Cameron Smith and told a group of people that have never seen a rugby league game that this guy is the best player in our brutal sport, he’s played more games than anyone else and he’s probably the best player to ever play our game, they would probably laugh at you," Slater says. "You would probably look at me and say, ‘Are you serious? Isn’t he part of the administration staff?' "It’s such a physical and brutal sport and the power athletes stand out. Cam is not one of them. He can be the best player on the field and you don’t even really notice what he’s doing. He’s so influential … a real silent assassin." Smith and Suliasi Vunivalu tackle Nick Cotric of the Raiders in September 2017. Credit:AAP


What is Smith's job on a football field? Smith plays hooker, or dummy-half. He receives the ball when it is played by a tackled teammate and, from there, has the option to pass, run or kick – perhaps a combination of the three. The next movement in a set of six tackles is, literally, in his hands. In the modern version of the game, hooker has become a central playmaking role and at the Storm, Smith is the general, making chess moves up the field until his side is in a position to strike. "Everyone talks about his leadership and his time with the football," says Slater. "But he’s got incredible skills. His passing game is as good as any, his left foot kicking game is superb." And Smith operates with such strategic precision that he rarely makes the wrong tactical choice. "A lot of people see the big, strong player ... super fast, the great sidestep ... all of that stands out. But being able to read a game and make decisions ... that are the right ones consistently ... is super important," Slater says. "That’s what Cam is really good at, making the right decisions. "He has always been able to read a game of football, always been able to understand what is needed at particular times of the game. He may need to settle the team down, kick early and build pressure ... that has always come naturally. Given the importance of that in the NRL at the moment, he stands out, because he understands the game of rugby league better than anyone else."


What are his key qualities with the ball? In attack, Smith is relentless – from minute one to minute 80. He never stops looking, probing, thinking, either taking on the line himself or, more often, setting up the men around him. Nothing escapes his gaze. In the video above, Smith sees Newcastle Knights forward Tim Glasby struggling with an injury but trapped in the defensive line. Before the Knights can send for cover, Smith has sent a barrage of runners his way and Melbourne score the try. He sees, reacts and his ball carriers cash in once again. It's over in a flash. Smith during a clash against the Panthers late last season. Credit:Getty Images How does he "make play"? On your opponent's try line, you have seconds to make attacking decisions. "Close to the line, your time reduces," says Slater. "The defence is right up and aggressive. But that’s where he [Smith] excels. "He created two tries last week just by engaging players, or players engaging him. Max King and Nelson Asofa-Solomona both scored tries. He remains calm under pressure, even with the football. All the attention is on him and he still makes the right decisions. It’s an incredible skill. He’s gifted but he also has the most experience and knowledge in that area. He’s very comfortable there."


To see what Slater is talking about, have a look at the video below, where Smith sets up King against the Cowboys. Note the little bump Smith gives the offside Cowboys player to create a hesitation and uncertainty, before he scampers across the field. Smith's opposition only has eyes for him and by the time he has tucked King back on the angle, the defence hasn't been able to adjust. It's simple play executed to perfection. Smith will back snap judgements in any scenario. Have a look below as he makes a bold late-tackle play against the Roosters, who have one of the best defences in the NRL. Rather than swing it back for a high kick, which may provide a scoring opportunity or the chance for another six tackles, Smith sees the smallest of cracks and sets off towards the line. Christian Welch plays his part as a decoy before Smith hits Tui Kamikamica on the chest for the try. With Smith on the prowl, any lapse will be swiftly exposed. Smith's passing game is so deadly partly because his kicking game is so good. Have a look at his fourth-tackle option in the video below, when he spots the Warriors fullback slightly out of position. Jahrome Hughes sees what Smith is cooking up and sprints into vacant space to regather and score. "It is so easy to play when he does that," Slater says. "You perfect your own position. I never had to worry about kicking the football, for example. It makes your game so much simpler. They know if they do their job, they get rewarded, because Cameron Smith makes decisions for them."


How has he kept going … physically unscathed? "There have been legends that have played our game ... he sits at the top of that tree now, without a doubt," says recently retired champion halfback Johnathan Thurston. Talent aside, part of that legacy has been due to his sheer numbers of appearances. Smith has a current total of 509 games (including NRL, State of Origin and Australia), the now-retired Darren Lockyer the closest behind him with 450. They are a staggering set of numbers that, taken as a whole, are never likely to be replicated. Smith has also managed to go through his entire career, in one of the toughest positions in one of the toughest sports, without a serious injury – no ACL injuries, no broken limbs, no busted shoulders. In 17 seasons in the NRL, he has missed just six games through injury. The average age of players in the NRL this year is 25, according to Champion Data, while Smith is flourishing at a spritely 36. The beating his body takes is ferocious but timing, technique and a dash of luck have seen him become ubiquitous in the NRL since the early 2000s. When he steps out on Saturday in a qualifying final against the Canberra Raiders, it will be NRL game number 412, to go with 42 matches for Queensland and 56 for Australia. They are a staggering set of numbers that, taken as a whole, are never likely to be replicated. Smith in round 21 against the Rabbitohs in August. Credit:NRL Photos Why is he such a polarising figure? Smith isn't everyone's cup of tea. His critics, many of whom reside south of the Tweed River and above the Victorian border, point to his occasionally controversial techniques during tackles – he missed the 2008 grand final because of a "grapple" tackle during which he was judged to have put an opponent's head in a dangerous position – and because of regular interchanges with referees, creating a perception that he is the one in charge of the game. Part of Melbourne's success has been down to their ability to control the pace of a game and Smith has been central to those tactics. "Defensively ... you cannot create a quick play-the-ball around Cam," Slater says. Smith sometimes pushes the laws to their limits and that attracts criticism, in a similar way to All Blacks champion Richie McCaw, who was revered by Kiwis but often public enemy No.1 to rivals. Neither cared. Smith measures success by the trophies he holds up or the number of premiership rings on his fingers. There is every chance he will add another title to his collection in 2019.