Smith retires:

[dazza65]

Finishing as one of the greats and retiring quietly (on the eve of a new season when the media can't make a big deal about it) is pretty classy in my books.

Seems like he beat them at their own game.

Sarcasm?

I'm not one for the corny build-ups to retirement. The month long highlights reels and tributes.

To be honest, I would have been vomiting in my mouth a bit with the media's month long "they're doing it for Cam" stories leading up to the GF.

I don't like the bloke at all, but am in awe at what he achieved.

I don't think the way he retired was intended to eclipse the 2021 season launch and I think it's laughable that the media have their knickers in a knot over something so minor.

Announcing his retirement 24hrs before the season launch was only ever going to achieve one thing. It’s about Smith the ever attention seeking grub. Don’t let that it’s not about him fool you, it’s all about him.

Pretty weird for an attention seeking grub to forgo a retirement tour where all the attention could have been on him for 2-3 months.

How many testimonials and retirement functions has he already had? He wants a job in the media, this was no accident.

Got news for you. He’s going to have a higher role in the game than working in the media. You really think he’s going to be a Fox pundit? Won’t be long till he’s a decision maker

I don’t know about NRL, maybe ARL commissioner but more likely CEO and Managing Director of the RLPA since all the players love him so much.

 

[BAGNF05]

Somewhere for the seagulls to shit..


I’m convinced it’s Michael De Veres head on SBW’s frame

 

[jirskyr]

His fans cannot deny he had a charmed career, always playing in stacked teams

Surely after a continuously dominant career we can do away with the "stacked teams" argument for Smith?

Don't get me wrong, I asked the same question of Cooper Cronk when he joined a stacked Roosters side, but by opinion is Cooper Cronk joined an already dominant team at Melbourne. Cronk played the first 20-odd games mostly off the bench because he couldn't force his way into the side.

Smith WAS the start of the stacked side at Melbourne - he was first to debut of all those great players. Storm had missed the Top 8 the two years prior to Smith's debut at hooker (he played 2 games in 2002 at HB). He was picked at starting hooker for QLD after only 15-odd games in first grade.

I'm no Smith fan but you just can't be that good for that long, when the entire team changes around you several times over a huge career, and still keep winning, without actually being pretty damned good yourself.

 

[jirskyr]

It interests me how such a dominant successful player can be so divisive. I don't like Thurston but I can respect his footballing ability, and generally speaking I don't think people hate him much. I don't like Cronk's personality at all, literally the most annoying pundit going around for me, but you can't argue with his success, even if he potentially stood on the shoulders of greats.

I don't like the lifestyle Joey Johns had off-field but ultimately, so long as the bloke's not a convicted criminal, I tend to only think about the fooball.

I think that's how I'll end up with Cameron Smith - don't like the bloke, but man, could he play football! You'd be lining up to shake his hand if he was a Wests Tiger.

That part of him that people don't like - the personal winning at all costs - you wish your team's players had that drive to succeed over 430 FG matches. There's lots of things he could have done differently as a sporting personality, but he's an indisputable winner in all aspects of his career. He even had Cronk and Slater and Inglis move on and he still dragged his side to premierships.

He'll be an Immortal before long, so if you hate him, at least prepare yourself for the inevitable.

Not a fan of the ‘if he played for Wests Tigers we’d all love him’ line, obviously he didn’t and never considered playing for a battling team, it’s not his MO. His fans cannot deny he had a charmed career, always playing in stacked teams and getting showered in riches and diamonds the whole way. Good footy player, not a bloke I’d want to see play for us, because it’s below him.

Lol wow that’s quite the assumption, based on virtually nothing but your dislike for him.

It interests me how such a dominant successful player can be so divisive. I don't like Thurston but I can respect his footballing ability, and generally speaking I don't think people hate him much. I don't like Cronk's personality at all, literally the most annoying pundit going around for me, but you can't argue with his success, even if he potentially stood on the shoulders of greats.

I don't like the lifestyle Joey Johns had off-field but ultimately, so long as the bloke's not a convicted criminal, I tend to only think about the fooball.

I think that's how I'll end up with Cameron Smith - don't like the bloke, but man, could he play football! You'd be lining up to shake his hand if he was a Wests Tiger.

That part of him that people don't like - the personal winning at all costs - you wish your team's players had that drive to succeed over 430 FG matches. There's lots of things he could have done differently as a sporting personality, but he's an indisputable winner in all aspects of his career. He even had Cronk and Slater and Inglis move on and he still dragged his side to premierships.

He'll be an Immortal before long, so if you hate him, at least prepare yourself for the inevitable.

Not a fan of the ‘if he played for Wests Tigers we’d all love him’ line, obviously he didn’t and never considered playing for a battling team, it’s not his MO. His fans cannot deny he had a charmed career, always playing in stacked teams and getting showered in riches and diamonds the whole way. Good footy player, not a bloke I’d want to see play for us, because it’s below him.

Lol wow that’s quite the assumption, based on virtually nothing but your dislike for him.

Cos I’m sure half way through all that winning he thought, might chuck it all in and go come 9th?????

Or maybe he wanted to be a one club man. But no, let’s assume it’s the most selfish reason. Do you feel the same about a player like Lockyer?

He came pretty close to signing with Broncs I believe.

On Lockyer, no salary cap scandal although many would have doubts. No diamond rings. No wrestling. Club has fallen apart post his career. I’ve got a lot more respect for his achievements.

Darren Lockyer was just never found out, the Thoroughbreds kept him well watered for a very long time. Yet to see how the Storm does post Smith.

 

[BAGNF05]

His fans cannot deny he had a charmed career, always playing in stacked teams

Surely after a continuously dominant career we can do away with the "stacked teams" argument for Smith?

Don't get me wrong, I asked the same question of Cooper Cronk when he joined a stacked Roosters side, but by opinion is Cooper Cronk joined an already dominant team at Melbourne. Cronk played the first 20-odd games mostly off the bench because he couldn't force his way into the side.

Smith WAS the start of the stacked side at Melbourne - he was first to debut of all those great players. Storm had missed the Top 8 the two years prior to Smith's debut at hooker (he played 2 games in 2002 at HB). He was picked at starting hooker for QLD after only 15-odd games in first grade.

I'm no Smith fan but you just can't be that good for that long, when the entire team changes around you several times over a huge career, and still keep winning, without actually being pretty damned good yourself.

I’ve said several times he’s a good player, just charmed also.

 

[jirskyr]

His fans cannot deny he had a charmed career, always playing in stacked teams

Surely after a continuously dominant career we can do away with the "stacked teams" argument for Smith?

Don't get me wrong, I asked the same question of Cooper Cronk when he joined a stacked Roosters side, but by opinion is Cooper Cronk joined an already dominant team at Melbourne. Cronk played the first 20-odd games mostly off the bench because he couldn't force his way into the side.

Smith WAS the start of the stacked side at Melbourne - he was first to debut of all those great players. Storm had missed the Top 8 the two years prior to Smith's debut at hooker (he played 2 games in 2002 at HB). He was picked at starting hooker for QLD after only 15-odd games in first grade.

I'm no Smith fan but you just can't be that good for that long, when the entire team changes around you several times over a huge career, and still keep winning, without actually being pretty damned good yourself.

I’ve said several times he’s a good player, just charmed also.

Immortal-good, I'm afraid. I guarantee he gets it within a decade.

 

[jirskyr]

It interests me how such a dominant successful player can be so divisive. I don't like Thurston but I can respect his footballing ability, and generally speaking I don't think people hate him much. I don't like Cronk's personality at all, literally the most annoying pundit going around for me, but you can't argue with his success, even if he potentially stood on the shoulders of greats.

I don't like the lifestyle Joey Johns had off-field but ultimately, so long as the bloke's not a convicted criminal, I tend to only think about the fooball.

I think that's how I'll end up with Cameron Smith - don't like the bloke, but man, could he play football! You'd be lining up to shake his hand if he was a Wests Tiger.

That part of him that people don't like - the personal winning at all costs - you wish your team's players had that drive to succeed over 430 FG matches. There's lots of things he could have done differently as a sporting personality, but he's an indisputable winner in all aspects of his career. He even had Cronk and Slater and Inglis move on and he still dragged his side to premierships.

He'll be an Immortal before long, so if you hate him, at least prepare yourself for the inevitable.

Not a fan of the ‘if he played for Wests Tigers we’d all love him’ line, obviously he didn’t and never considered playing for a battling team, it’s not his MO. His fans cannot deny he had a charmed career, always playing in stacked teams and getting showered in riches and diamonds the whole way. Good footy player, not a bloke I’d want to see play for us, because it’s below him.

Lol wow that’s quite the assumption, based on virtually nothing but your dislike for him.

It interests me how such a dominant successful player can be so divisive. I don't like Thurston but I can respect his footballing ability, and generally speaking I don't think people hate him much. I don't like Cronk's personality at all, literally the most annoying pundit going around for me, but you can't argue with his success, even if he potentially stood on the shoulders of greats.

I don't like the lifestyle Joey Johns had off-field but ultimately, so long as the bloke's not a convicted criminal, I tend to only think about the fooball.

I think that's how I'll end up with Cameron Smith - don't like the bloke, but man, could he play football! You'd be lining up to shake his hand if he was a Wests Tiger.

That part of him that people don't like - the personal winning at all costs - you wish your team's players had that drive to succeed over 430 FG matches. There's lots of things he could have done differently as a sporting personality, but he's an indisputable winner in all aspects of his career. He even had Cronk and Slater and Inglis move on and he still dragged his side to premierships.

He'll be an Immortal before long, so if you hate him, at least prepare yourself for the inevitable.

Not a fan of the ‘if he played for Wests Tigers we’d all love him’ line, obviously he didn’t and never considered playing for a battling team, it’s not his MO. His fans cannot deny he had a charmed career, always playing in stacked teams and getting showered in riches and diamonds the whole way. Good footy player, not a bloke I’d want to see play for us, because it’s below him.

Lol wow that’s quite the assumption, based on virtually nothing but your dislike for him.

Cos I’m sure half way through all that winning he thought, might chuck it all in and go come 9th?????

Or maybe he wanted to be a one club man. But no, let’s assume it’s the most selfish reason. Do you feel the same about a player like Lockyer?

He came pretty close to signing with Broncs I believe.

On Lockyer, no salary cap scandal although many would have doubts. No diamond rings. No wrestling. Club has fallen apart post his career. I’ve got a lot more respect for his achievements.

Darren Lockyer was just never found out, the Thoroughbreds kept him well watered for a very long time. Yet to see how the Storm does post Smith.

Also if you use the Smith "charmed run" argument, same applies to Darren Lockyer. Bloke debuts into the 1995 Broncos, just a few years off the 92-93 double and still the era of Langer, Walters Bros, Webcke, Sailor, Carne, Renouf. Lockyer becomes cashed up via Super League, Broncos win fully contested titles in 1998 and 2000.

Broncos have stand-out rosters all through the 90s and into 2010; Lockyer only misses the finals once in his whole career, has Wayne Bennett as his coach for all bar 3 seasons.

 

[Spartan117]

Good player but Def not a fan of the man.

His tactics, Antics with refs, wrestling, pulling ears, Leading the Aus Team in the QLD victory song after a win, 2 contracts and knowingly rorting the salary cap, waiting to the day before the 2021 season to announce retirement.

I could take 12 months without hearing is name.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

No one plays nearly 450 NRL games if they just good. That stat alone makes him one of the all time greats.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

His fans cannot deny he had a charmed career, always playing in stacked teams

Surely after a continuously dominant career we can do away with the "stacked teams" argument for Smith?

Don't get me wrong, I asked the same question of Cooper Cronk when he joined a stacked Roosters side, but by opinion is Cooper Cronk joined an already dominant team at Melbourne. Cronk played the first 20-odd games mostly off the bench because he couldn't force his way into the side.

Smith WAS the start of the stacked side at Melbourne - he was first to debut of all those great players. Storm had missed the Top 8 the two years prior to Smith's debut at hooker (he played 2 games in 2002 at HB). He was picked at starting hooker for QLD after only 15-odd games in first grade.

I'm no Smith fan but you just can't be that good for that long, when the entire team changes around you several times over a huge career, and still keep winning, without actually being pretty damned good yourself.

I’ve said several times he’s a good player, just charmed also.

Immortal-good, I'm afraid. I guarantee he gets it within a decade.

I’d say 5, maybe even less. The only question mark is that it’s journo’s who decide, and if they politics, then maybe not. But his achievements would be impossible to ignore. No other player in history can come close to him.

 

[diedpretty]

His fans cannot deny he had a charmed career, always playing in stacked teams

Surely after a continuously dominant career we can do away with the "stacked teams" argument for Smith?

Don't get me wrong, I asked the same question of Cooper Cronk when he joined a stacked Roosters side, but by opinion is Cooper Cronk joined an already dominant team at Melbourne. Cronk played the first 20-odd games mostly off the bench because he couldn't force his way into the side.

Smith WAS the start of the stacked side at Melbourne - he was first to debut of all those great players. Storm had missed the Top 8 the two years prior to Smith's debut at hooker (he played 2 games in 2002 at HB). He was picked at starting hooker for QLD after only 15-odd games in first grade.

I'm no Smith fan but you just can't be that good for that long, when the entire team changes around you several times over a huge career, and still keep winning, without actually being pretty damned good yourself.

I’ve said several times he’s a good player, just charmed also.

Immortal-good, I'm afraid. I guarantee he gets it within a decade.

Apparently if they stick to the current eligibility rules he will be there in 2025. Even then thats fudging it as he didn't announce his retirement until this year which if he has to wait 5 years should be 2026.

 

[hobbo1]

Bump....

 

[tigerbalm]

Bump....

lol...Schadenfreude

 

[Fade.To.Black]

Finishing as one of the greats and retiring quietly (on the eve of a new season when the media can't make a big deal about it) is pretty classy in my books.

Seems like he beat them at their own game.

Sarcasm?

I'm not one for the corny build-ups to retirement. The month long highlights reels and tributes.

To be honest, I would have been vomiting in my mouth a bit with the media's month long "they're doing it for Cam" stories leading up to the GF.

I don't like the bloke at all, but am in awe at what he achieved.

I don't think the way he retired was intended to eclipse the 2021 season launch and I think it's laughable that the media have their knickers in a knot over something so minor.

Announcing his retirement 24hrs before the season launch was only ever going to achieve one thing. It’s about Smith the ever attention seeking grub. Don’t let that it’s not about him fool you, it’s all about him.

Pretty weird for an attention seeking grub to forgo a retirement tour where all the attention could have been on him for 2-3 months.

How many testimonials and retirement functions has he already had? He wants a job in the media, this was no accident.

Got news for you. He’s going to have a higher role in the game than working in the media. You really think he’s going to be a Fox pundit? Won’t be long till he’s a decision maker

Would you be happy with that?

Of course he would. He's got Cammy's poster on his bedroom ceiling. He's Cam's number one fanboy, has been for quite a while.

Yep. Is there an insult there somewhere?

No insult at all, far from it..... I find it hilarious that a grown man would take such personal affront at people who dislike a sportsman for their own reasons. Please keep it going. I'm imagining a kid at the shops going off-tap because he wasn't allowed an ice-cream, the whole full body meltdown, legs kickin', the sobbing, the whole shebang?

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Finishing as one of the greats and retiring quietly (on the eve of a new season when the media can't make a big deal about it) is pretty classy in my books.

Seems like he beat them at their own game.

Sarcasm?

I'm not one for the corny build-ups to retirement. The month long highlights reels and tributes.

To be honest, I would have been vomiting in my mouth a bit with the media's month long "they're doing it for Cam" stories leading up to the GF.

I don't like the bloke at all, but am in awe at what he achieved.

I don't think the way he retired was intended to eclipse the 2021 season launch and I think it's laughable that the media have their knickers in a knot over something so minor.

Announcing his retirement 24hrs before the season launch was only ever going to achieve one thing. It’s about Smith the ever attention seeking grub. Don’t let that it’s not about him fool you, it’s all about him.

Pretty weird for an attention seeking grub to forgo a retirement tour where all the attention could have been on him for 2-3 months.

How many testimonials and retirement functions has he already had? He wants a job in the media, this was no accident.

Got news for you. He’s going to have a higher role in the game than working in the media. You really think he’s going to be a Fox pundit? Won’t be long till he’s a decision maker

Would you be happy with that?

Of course he would. He's got Cammy's poster on his bedroom ceiling. He's Cam's number one fanboy, has been for quite a while.

Yep. Is there an insult there somewhere?

No insult at all, far from it..... I find it hilarious that a grown man would take such personal affront at people who dislike a sportsman for their own reasons. Please keep it going. I'm imagining a kid at the shops going off-tap because he wasn't allowed an ice-cream, the whole full body meltdown, legs kickin', the sobbing, the whole shebang?

Isn’t that ironic. You seem affronted that someone has the hide to defend him. And in regards to your analogy. You blow your o ring anytime his name is mentioned.

 

[hank37w]

The sooner the grub is forgotten about the better. There'll be another flog to come along and take his place soon enough.

Jackson Hastings?

 

[TigerWest]

Good player but Def not a fan of the man.

His tactics, Antics with refs, wrestling, pulling ears, Leading the Aus Team in the QLD victory song after a win, 2 contracts and knowingly rorting the salary cap, waiting to the day before the 2021 season to announce retirement.

I could take 12 months without hearing is name.

Maybe, but I wish we had him for a few years, a few years ago.

 

[innsaneink]


Grubby cheat

 

[Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan]

Should rename this thread: "Smith retires; crybabies whine"

 

[jirskyr]

His fans cannot deny he had a charmed career, always playing in stacked teams

Surely after a continuously dominant career we can do away with the "stacked teams" argument for Smith?

Don't get me wrong, I asked the same question of Cooper Cronk when he joined a stacked Roosters side, but by opinion is Cooper Cronk joined an already dominant team at Melbourne. Cronk played the first 20-odd games mostly off the bench because he couldn't force his way into the side.

Smith WAS the start of the stacked side at Melbourne - he was first to debut of all those great players. Storm had missed the Top 8 the two years prior to Smith's debut at hooker (he played 2 games in 2002 at HB). He was picked at starting hooker for QLD after only 15-odd games in first grade.

I'm no Smith fan but you just can't be that good for that long, when the entire team changes around you several times over a huge career, and still keep winning, without actually being pretty damned good yourself.

I’ve said several times he’s a good player, just charmed also.

Immortal-good, I'm afraid. I guarantee he gets it within a decade.

I’d say 5, maybe even less. The only question mark is that it’s journo’s who decide, and if they politics, then maybe not. But his achievements would be impossible to ignore. No other player in history can come close to him.

The NRL decides now? The convene an Awards Sub-Committee and a Selection Panel, as well as an Independent Auditor who review the final votes.

NRL has owned the Immortals concept since 2017 when it was absorbed from the closing Rugby League Week.