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.
