Smith retires:

[voice_of_reason]

I'm bashing him cause he's a flog..

I'm struggling to find a counter argument to your succinct analysis. I'm in no way disappointed.

 

[Geo]

I'm bashing him cause he's a flog..

I'm struggling to find a counter argument to your succinct analysis. I'm in no way disappointed.

finally the voice of reason..

 

[Tiger_Fanatic3]

Lets hijack the season start..

 

[The_Patriot]

Interesting to note that Anthony Griffin recruited him to the Storm.

Something Dragons fans should think long and hard about. They have the right coach to rebuild them.

 

[tbones10]

Take all the other stuff aside, still the best player to ever play the game. Imagine where we would be if he had signed with us instead of Melbourne.

 

[Tigerlily]

Thank goodness the narcissistic drama queen has left the building🥳

 

[gallagher]

Think I'll skip the NRL shows for the next week.

 

[Russell]

So many salty people out there..

So the bloke woke up the day before the Season 2021 was to begin and thought ..yeah..nah..


FLOG..

So what. Did anyone really think when he hadn’t signed with a club by Xmas that he wasn’t retiring.

First he was called one for not announcing his retirement. Then he gets called one for announcing it. Can’t win

You knew he was retiring since Xmas? should've sold your story to Buzz, scoop.

being contrary for the sake of being contrary must be tiring!

I’m sorry if you were unable to see the obvious. People bashing Smith for the sake of it. Now that’s tiring.

You don't need to bash him for the sake of it GNR.

He hands out ammunition by the truckloads every year.

 

[The_Patriot]

Take all the other stuff aside, still the best player to ever play the game. Imagine where we would be if he had signed with us instead of Melbourne.

Forget Smith, if Langmack and his mates would have shut up we could have had the master coach.

 

[The_Patriot]

A lot of sooky la la's on this thread.

My god grow up and realise our team has under achieved while others with players like Smith have not.

Sounds like loser mentality 101.

 

[mike]

So many salty people out there..

So the bloke woke up the day before the Season 2021 was to begin and thought ..yeah..nah..


FLOG..

So what. Did anyone really think when he hadn’t signed with a club by Xmas that he wasn’t retiring.

First he was called one for not announcing his retirement. Then he gets called one for announcing it. Can’t win

You knew he was retiring since Xmas? should've sold your story to Buzz, scoop.

being contrary for the sake of being contrary must be tiring!

I’m sorry if you were unable to see the obvious. People bashing Smith for the sake of it. Now that’s tiring.

It's all good, no need to be sorry. I'm just a casual fan but I do find it hard to believe that with all reporters and news outlets that no one leaked such a " obvious" outcome. Anyways, events like these always bring out:

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Well, let me ask you this. When you woke up this morning, if the topic of Smith playing again came up, would you still have believed he would play again? I doubt many people would, which makes his announcement pretty anti-climactic, which makes me wonder why it’s offended so many. It’s a pretty pointless announcement at this point.

To announce it the day before the launch of the 2021 NRL season just shows what an attention seeking scumbag he really is.

 

[Harvey]

I believe many people would have know about Smith's retirement quite some time ago
It was all just Hush Hush
A statue of a player is usually erected after retirement not whilst still playing
That statue would take months to make
Then there is the approvals process to have the statue erected on site
The position it will be in
Slaters statue also erected
This whole process would involve quite a few people
Smith's copping it for the timing but much of this would have been decided by others
We have to all agree he was a great player
That can't be denied
But I think he let his ability as a player interfere with other matters within the game
He should have just played the game
But now would be the time for Smith to get involved to try and make the game better
He would have to do that by making impartial descisions which means showing no favouritism
If that's at all possible
Maybe get involved in some kind of review committee
By the way
I still think Thurston was a better player

Unveiling a statue of a player not retired would be similar to holding a testimonial for a player with no plans to go.

I think he did not think he should be held to the standards applied to most

 

[rustycage]

I'll never forget the Alex McKinnon incident when Smith was arguing with the refs about the penalty.

This. Disgraceful display. Truly appalling.

 

[JC99]

One of the best players ever! No one controls a game and leads a team around like he does. Has had his fair share of drama throughout the years but you can't deny his ability.

Sad to see him retire as he could've played another year and killed it again I'm sure. Someone rival fans hate but if he was on your team he would be your favourite player ever 😂

 

[hobbo1]

I’ll let @Fade-To-Black have the final say in this thread ...
Take it away mate ..

 

[kiwitiger]

I’ll let @Fade-To-Black have the final say in this thread ...
Take it away mate ..

I really hope f2b says what he really thinks. no sitting on the fence, being politically correct but tells it like he sees it

 

[rustycage]

Such a Smith thing to do, he could've packed up the Jet Ski's, Harvey Noman vouchers, all the books and even Barbs NRL diamonds at the end of last year and let the game move on.

Instead, he waits until the eve of the season start and announces it. Ill give him one thing, he's consistent at being a **douche**.

You chose a "D" word. I can think of an alternate

 

[Needaname]

Interesting to note that Anthony Griffin recruited him to the Storm.

Something Dragons fans should think long and hard about. They have the right coach to rebuild them.

Gus recruited Anthony Griffen to Penrith as well as he was well known in Brisbane for establishing the framework and pathways for talented young players and transitioning them into first graders. The problem was though he wasn’t able to get them any further.
His probably known as a coach that can build a side into a finalist contender but not one that can elevate them to a premiership. Had a pretty good record with lower grades though.
Side note, closest hooker to how Cam Smith plays the game is probably Andrew MCullough.

 

[BAGNF05]

Haven’t read through the whole thread but my takes on Cam

A lot like Tom Brady in his ability to get the best out of a team as a leader
Probably the best record of any player to lace a boot
Very out of touch with the common man who pays his meagre dough to go watch the NRL
Cheated the salary cap by signing 2 contracts and will never admit it
His record of matches played and records in origin will stand for a long time
Won’t be appreciated for his grand final success as Melbourne have always benefited from significant NRL favouritism and obviously got 2 stripped
Outside of Storm and QLD fans, he won’t really be missed
Could have improved his image by plying his trade for struggling GC this year but that’s not his MO
Bit of a victim of some of the flaws in the game that I think need to be addressed, namely the farcical salary cap and talent distribution

 

[The_Patriot]

Interesting to note that Anthony Griffin recruited him to the Storm.

Something Dragons fans should think long and hard about. They have the right coach to rebuild them.

Gus recruited Anthony Griffen to Penrith as well as he was well known in Brisbane for establishing the framework and pathways for talented young players and transitioning them into first graders. The problem was though he wasn’t able to get them any further.
His probably known as a coach that can build a side into a finalist contender but not one that can elevate them to a premiership. Had a pretty good record with lower grades though.
Side note, closest hooker to how Cam Smith plays the game is probably Andrew MCullough.

That's debateable.

A lot of people blame Gus for not being able to take a back seat. Something Cleary insisted upon his appointment.

Tells me the real story