Cameron Smith retires from rugby league

Cameron Smith has retired from rugby league.

A long-running saga over Smith's future came to an end on Wednesday when the Melbourne Storm confirmed the news. Smith then spoke at a press conference, revealing that he'd only made the decision a week ago.

He said that his family and close mate Billy Slater, his long-time Storm teammate, had been among his few confidantes. He said that he'd "wrestled" with the retirement decision ever since winning last year's grand final with Melbourne.

"That's probably the thing that made it more difficult. The end of last year, winning the premiership, I still felt good within myself physically and mentally," Smith, 37, said on Wednesday.

"I still felt like my form was good enough to play in the NRL. But at the end of the day, once I spent good quality time with my family up in Queensland, I knew that it was the right time to finish."

Smith said that he hoped the next chapter of his life would "involve rugby league in some capacity".

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Smith played 430 NRL games and won three premierships for Melbourne. He also played 56 Tests for Australia and 42 State of Origin matches for Queensland, as a mainstay of the Maroons dynasty that won 11 series in 12 years.

His retirement announcement followed the Wednesday unveiling of a Smith statue at AAMI Park, the Storm's home ground, as well as a bronze model of fellow Melbourne icon Slater.

He said that he'd decided a trip back to Melbourne, having relocated to Queensland with his family, was the perfect time to make his announcement.

"This is were I and Billy both started our career, right here at Olympic Park, 2002," Smith said. "This is where I wanted to officially end it as well and I had the opportunity to stand next to my good friend Billy."

There was some speculation that Smith might sign a late contract with either the Brisbane Broncos or Gold Coast Titans for this season, but that has come to nothing. He retires as a one-club player, something that he said was a key factor; having dreamed of remaining so ever since being a Storm rookie nearly two decades ago.

"That was probably one of the main considerations, really," Smith said.

"Given the amount of time I've spent here and what I've tried to build with guys like Billy and Cooper [Cronk] and Ryan Hoffman and Jesse Bromwich and Ryan Hinchcliffe, all these guys have put a lot of effort into growing the sport of rugby league but growing the organisation of Melbourne Storm to what it is today.

"That was a major factor, of remaining a one-club player."

Smith made the hooker position his own in a 19-season first grade career. He will undoubtedly be inducted as a rugby league Immortal once the five-year waiting period is complete; beginning with his retirement.

Smith was a dual Dally M Medallist, a dual Golden Boot winner and an eight-time Dally M Hooker of the Year. He was also a four-time winner of the Wally Lewis Medal, as man of the Origin series, a four-time Dally M Representative Player of the Year and a five-time Dally M Captain of the Year.

Smith had played his cards extremely close to his chest with his retirement announcement. Even his long-time Storm coach, Craig Bellamy, said on Wednesday morning that he had no idea what Smith had decided for his future and had recently given up asking.

"I tried that a couple of times last year and got a fairly icy response, so I haven't brought it up again," Bellamy told SEN radio.

Smith's career was not without controversy.

He was one of the faces of the club through its 2010 salary cap scandal, which resulted in Melbourne's 2007 and 2009 premierships being stripped. A such, Smith has won five NRL grand finals but can count only three officials titles.

Smith also became a lightning rod for criticism of the Melbourne Storm's playing style, after the club pioneered wrestling techniques in tackles.

Yet all criticism is dwarfed by mighty achievements. Immortal Andrew Johns counts Smith the greatest player he's ever seen, as do many other legends of the game.

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