CAMERON Smith sells himself as rugby league’s Mr Nice Guy. Don’t be fooled.

Blues great Benny Elias rates the manipulative Queensland captain as the greatest “con artist” since Wally Lewis.

And in the countdown to Wednesday night’s State of Origin blockbuster at ANZ Stadium, Elias has named Smith’s ability to “absolutely control” referees as the biggest danger to NSW retaining their title.

After escaping suspension for dangerously lashing out with his feet at South Sydney hooker Issac Luke last week, Smith is free to lead Queensland.

For years the view of rival players and coaches is that Smith gets away with too much on the field, and not just because he is regarded as one of the greats of the modern game.

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media_camera Cameron Smith is NSW’s public enemy No.1.

After kicking out at Luke multiple times in that ugly tackle, Smith claimed he wasn’t aware the Souths hooker was underneath him.

And that defence played a big part in Smith escaping suspension, given the NRL’s match review committee would have been hard pressed determining the attack was intentional.

media_camera Choke hold

media_camera Face plant

media_camera Grapple

Asked how he viewed it, Elias laughed: “There is no way in the world he would have felt a bloke underneath him.

“Surely he has not been hearing whispers that Issac Luke is the best hooker in the world?

“Surely he wasn’t letting him know who the best hooker in the world is.

“I see Cameron (kicking out) every time he gets tackled. (Laughing). “He has everyone bluffed. He is the best. I love him.”

But while Elias applauded Smith’s gamesmanship, he fears the refs could be sucker-punched by Queensland as a result.

“The best players in the game are the greatest con artists,” Elias said.

“Wally Lewis was the greatest. I would put (Smith) up there with Wally. The way they manipulate and the way they absolutely control referees.

“If you have got control of the referee, you have got control of the game. He has the accountant’s look and he has the charm of a priest.

“And with the nous that goes with it, he just completes the package.”

Smith wasn’t even penalised for lashing out at Luke despite the incident being so blatant that Fox Sports commentators Warren Smith and Greg Alexander made immediate mention of how ugly it was.

Smith claimed after the game: “I was only told about it on the way here (to the media conference) that I had made contact with Issac Luke.

“He didn’t mention it during the game or after the game, so I don’t know what to say there.”

He could have said “sorry”, but instead Smith turned the spotlight on NSW fans. Asked if it was only being highlighted because of the upcoming Origin series, Smith said: “The comments on social media are probably from people in NSW.”

Just as it might not surprise you that Smith wasn’t penalised for kicking Luke, it also comes as no great surprise that Queensland won the penalty count in two of the three games in last year’s series.

Smith has always had a knack of sweet-talking refs. And it’s his subtlety, and cunningness, that often infuriates rivals. They don’t talk about it publicly, but they do privately.

“I don’t think he intimidates referees, I think he charms referees,” Elias said.

“There is a very subtle difference. And credit it to him, I say. He is an extremely clever No.9.”

Despite being regarded by many as a player whose tactics have at times bordered on questionable throughout his career, Smith has only served two suspensions in 13 years.