It was uncharacteristic to see Cameron Smith sitting out a game for the Storm - after all, he's only missed nine games in the last five years.

However, according to Triple M and Fox Sports' James Hooper, there may be a lot more to his absence.

"We saw Cameron Smith sit that game out last night, which is very rare for the Kangaroos and QLD skipper to miss games," Hoops said. Listen to the full report below.

"He prides himself on backing up after representative matches.

"I heard a whisper out of the QLD sheds that he actually picked up a sternum injury in that Origin game, so he's going to have to monitor that for the rest of the season.

"I have heard talk that it might have even been fractured, so that's a nasty injury if that is the case.

"I think they put a guard on it, but it's very, very painful.

"No doubt he's a warrior and I don't think he'd be missing too many games, but it's something that he's going to have to deal with."