Cameron Smith
Smith playing for the Kangaroos in 2008
Personal information
Full name	Cameron Smith
Born	18 June 1983 (1983-06-18) (age 26)
	Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Height	183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	90 kg (14 st 2 lb)
Playing information
Position	Hooker
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2002–	Melbourne Storm	169	27	390	0	888
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2003–09	Queensland	19	2	14	0	36
2006–09	Australia	14	2	7	0	22
As of 20 October 2009
Source: Rugby League Project

Cameron Smith (born 18 June 1983 in Brisbane, Queensland) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative hooker, he has played his whole NRL career to date with the Storm with whom he won the 2006 Dally M Medal, and the 2007 and 2009 NRL premierships. Also in 2007 Smith was awarded the Wally Lewis Medal for player of that year's State of Origin series and the Golden Boot award for best international player in the world.

[edit] Playing career

As a youth Smith was hooker for the Logan Brothers Junior Rugby League Club, Logan City, Queensland. After playing in the Queensland Cup for the Norths Devils side he moved up to the NRL with the Melbourne Storm club.

In 2003 the Queensland rugby league team were without a specialist hooker. After experimenting with different players in the position for the first two matched of the series and losing both, Smith was named at hooker for the third match and since then, no other player has worn the number 9 for the Maroons.

Later becoming captain of his club, Smith led the storm to the 2006 Grand Final. While the game was still in the balance he was forced from the field with injury, which the Storm's loss has been largely attributed to.^[1]

For the 2007 State of Origin series Smith took out both the Wally Lewis Medal for player of the series and Ron Mcauliffe Medal for Queensland player of the series.^[2]

Smith captained the Melbourne Storm in their 34–8 victory over the Manly Sea Eagles in the 2007 NRL Grand Final. Along with playing hooker he is also the first-choice goal kicker for the Melbourne Storm and is left footed.

In August, 2008, Smith was named in the preliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup,^[3][4] and in October 2008 he was selected in the final 24-man Australia squad.^[5]

Cameron was controversially suspended for two weeks in the 2008 finals series after a grapple tackle on Brisbane's Sam Thaiday. The suspension would have only been one week had he not had carry over points from a previous grapple tackle in round 1 of the year's competition. This meant he was suspended for Melbourne's 2008 grand final.The suspension was blown up by the media after the game and was responsible for the Melbourne Storm CEO, Brian Waldron, and coach, Craig Bellamy, claiming the judiciary had made their minds up before Cameron's case was heard. The judiciary panel members then threatened to sue the club if the comments were not retracted. He is now the Melbourne Storm's most experienced active player due to the retirement of Matt Geyer at the end of 2008. Cameron signed a four year extension to his contract in December 2008, resulting in him being a contracted player through to the end of at least the 2012 season. His contract is rumoured to be partly funded by third party sponsors who do not contribute to the standard salary cap.

Cameron has a daughter, Jada with his partner born in 2008 ^[6] and a son, Jasper born in 2009. ^[7]

In April 2009, he was named in the preliminary 25 man squad to represent Queensland in the opening State of Origin match for 2009.^[8] He was selected for Australia in the one-off test match against New Zealand on 8 May 2009.^[9]

In the preliminary final in which Melbourne thrashed Brisbane 40-10, he became Storm's highest ever point scorer, beating Matt Orford's record of 877. Smith led the Storm in their 2009 NRL Grand Final victory over the Parramatta Eels.^[10]

At the end of the season he joined the Kangaroos on their campaign to win the 2009 Four Nations tournament in England. He scored the try that saved Australia from losing in the opening match and also scored in the Kangaroos' victory against England in the final.

[edit] Achievements

• 2005: Ron McAullife Medal
• 2005: Club Player of the Year
• 2006: Dally M Player of the Year
• 2006: Club Player of the Year
• 2007: Wally Lewis Medal (State of Origin)
• 2007: Golden Boot Award International Player of the Year
• 2007: NRL - Most points (192) scored ever by a hooker in a season
• 2007: Club Player of the Year

Also Cameron Smith has not missed a State of Origin match since his debut in Game III, 2003 (a dead rubber which Queensland won 36-6, with Smith scoring a try).

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Melbourne Storm profile
• Smith takes Golden Boot award
• [1]