Cameron Smith confirms retirement

Correspondent

Melbourne Storm legend Cameron Smith has confirmed his retirement from the game.

The 37-year-old hangs up his boots as a one-club man, having made 433 appearances for Melbourne between 2002-20. He won 56 caps for Australia and played 42 times for Queensland in State of Origin.

Smith captained Australia and Queensland for six seasons, won multiple Premierships and World Club Challenge titles, two Dally M Medals and two Golden Boot awards.

Smith said: “I spent a few months in Queensland with the family and had a good opportunity to think about my future.

“When I look back on my career, I’ve been very fortunate to be part of such a wonderful organisation and it felt like the right time to finish, off the back of what was a very successful season last year.

“I couldn’t have asked for more than finishing with a premiership at a club I’ve played my entire career with.

“It gives me the opportunity to enjoy the next chapter of my life. Hopefully it will involve rugby league in some capacity but the most important thing is I get to spend quality time with my wife and three children.”

Storm chairman Matthew Tripp said: “Cameron is a once in a generation footballer and role model, not only for all Storm and NRL players now and in the future, but for all sports men and women.

“There is no doubt that without Cameron at the Storm, we wouldn’t have experienced the outstanding level of success that we have over his time at the club.

“He has a list of achievements that will be almost impossible to match.

“Not only has he been the most influential player in the game over the past two decades, but he is arguably the greatest player of all time and has become a household name throughout our home city of Melbourne and home state of Victoria.

“When this club first started, no-one could have imagined a player having that status south of the NSW border.

“We have been very fortunate to have had him wearing the purple jersey and leading our club for so long and we look forward to sitting down with Cameron in the coming weeks to discuss playing a role with the club in the future.

“The Smith family are a huge part of the Storm family and we look forward to seeing Barb, their children Jada, Jasper and Matilda, and the wider family here at Storm HQ for many years to come.”

Statues of Smith and Billy Slater were unveiled at Storm’s home ground at AAMI Park earlier today.

NRL Cameron Smith