Cameron smith

[Fade_To_Black]

^I'd be surprised if even his own kids like the bloke.
The personality bypass surgery he had worked well though. Was the same one Unca Wayne Bennett had many moons ago.

 

[stryker]

You'll like him once he becomes an immortal.

 

[Russell]

You'll like him once he becomes an immortal.

God help us all!!!!

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Best hooker of the modern era. The most durable as well.

 

[cktiger]

Best hooker of the modern era. The most durable as well.

Don't think too many are doubting his ability - more his personality and way he conducts himself on the field.
In that respect, well …. you can't polish a turd.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Best hooker of the modern era. The most durable as well.

Don't think too many are doubting his ability - more his personality and way he conducts himself on the field.
In that respect, well …. you can't polish a turd.

Meh. There's at least a dozen players I could name that are bigger grubs than him imo

 

[jirskyr]

Smith is to League what Richie McCaw is to Rugby. They are both so professional at 'refereeing' the referees. It's annoying but it works. I hate them both, but admit to having a grudging respect for them at the same time.

That's how I feel. Smith is the game's best hooker and has been for 10 years. The reason he annoys people so much is because he is so good at what he does, every week. Rarely gets injured, rarely showboats, doesn't look physically intimidating, but he just digs and digs. He has a true winners' attitude and he will be in your grill, and the ref's grill, for 80 minutes.

I think Cam Smith is the full embodiment of that professi-cheat side of Melbourne, where they push the rule and become experts at marginal play.

I WISH any Tigers player had that sort of mental and personality influence on a match.

 

[Harvey]

I personally think Smith might be a good player, but sportsmanship is not a strong point. The footage of his whinging while McKinnon was getting carted off painted him is a very poor light. He has not learnt. These tactics also serve the purpose of slowing the game down and allowing the teams defence to get set, while the game is changing to introduce shot clocks. I would prefer that a captain can ask the question get an answer and then suck it up even if he disagrees. If they carry on further, it is dissent and give them 10 in the bin. They will shut up and get on with the game soon enough.

 

[Fade_To_Black]

Best hooker of the modern era. The most durable as well.

Don't think too many are doubting his ability - more his personality and way he conducts himself on the field.
In that respect, well …. you can't polish a turd.

Hit the nail smack on the head ck. Well said.

 

[Russell]

I am sure nobody will agree - that's ok.

I am personally glad that he does not play for us.

I don't care how good he is - sportsmanship comes above that with me.

He is abysmal at that imo.

 

[stryker]

I think some of you are equating NRL to local bush league in terms of ethics etc….

The truth is, the better and more experienced the player, the bigger rule bender he is. I played some rep when I was younger and the difference between my school/club coaches and those at a higher level was all about stepping to the line and bending it to breaking point. Getting away with what you could without becoming a penalty magnet. The old saying was "the better the player, the bigger the cheat".

I love how the word "grub" has entered the rugby league mainstream vernacular. The truth is that when you play first grade for your local club side you are taught questionable tactics to gain competitive advantage. When you make it to NSW/QLD cup or U/20's level you learn legal grubby tactics. When you make it to NRL level you learn to be a controlled grub. When you play rep you master it.

Smith is a grand master and his complete knowledge of the rules book and how to manipulate it makes him a very interesting player indeed. He is a puppet master not just with the ball but without it too. Other master grubs like Ennis or Farah win the occasional battle against him but none win the war. His game is too dynamic.