Grant said it was unfortunate that two of the game's most respected figures were yet to come to peace over the sickening incident, but the governing body wouldn't intervene unless both parties were willing. Cameron Smith after the Queensland victory in the State of Origin. Credit:Getty Images "If Cameron is happy with where he is, we don't do anything," Grant said. "If Alex is happy with where he is, we don't do anything either. It's hard to imagine Alex – and be very careful in how you interpret this – [because] Alex has the sympathy and empathy of 100 per cent of the rugby league community. It's been shown in every way possible during unbelievably tragic circumstances. "But where he is at at the moment, he has lost some of that support. I don't think that's what he would have wanted."

Smith was one of the stars in Queensland's record-breaking victory, but chose not to broach the issue for fear of drawing attention away from the occasion and the farewell of Maroons stalwart Justin Hodges. Criticism: Alex McKinnon hit out at Cameron Smith during his appearance on 60 Minutes. "I don't think tonight's the right night out of respect to the game that was just played and that result for us," Smith said in the post-match press conference. "Any sort of distraction for me wouldn't have helped our cause tonight so all I did all week was focus on what the team needed from me and what the boys needed from me." Grant lauded Smith's Origin performance and said he was not surprised the Australian captain moved to deflect attention away from himself during the record-breaking victory.

"That's the sort of bloke he is. Cameron is a great example of the best in rugby league and he has had a very difficult week," Grant said. "When you stand back from it, it's very unfortunate it's where it is at the moment. The only people who can sort it out are Alex and Cameron. It's [about] where they want this to end … Clearly Alex feels very strongly about it and you can understand the feelings that might come into that. But when you sit down in the clear light of day and say 'Ok, that's what I think, that's what I said, now I'm here', is that where he wants to be? "They both have to make a decision about if that's where they want to be and if they don't they need to do something about it." Smith himself was the victim of a late lifting tackle from NSW forward Beau Scott, who faces the prospect of a one-game ban. However, the Storm hooker emerged unscathed and again held the shield aloft after the Maroons reasserted their Origin dominance. "He's one of the best players to have ever played the game, simple as that," Queensland coach Mal Meninga said.