Flames stoked in Cam Smith conspiracy after retirement call

He’s only been retired for a day but already there are whispers Cameron Smith is a prime candidate to make a comeback.

The NRL legend ended months of speculation about his future by announcing on Wednesday he won’t be playing on in 2021, having wrestled with the question of retirement up until a week ago.

Some believed Smith, who moved from Melbourne to the Gold Coast after the end of last season, was happy to drift off into the rugby league wilderness without telling anyone, leaving us all guessing as to what his next move would be.

But addressing the media on Wednesday, the 37-year-old denied he was deliberately playing games and said he was simply unsure about whether to keep playing or not.

Having spent his time since the Storm beat Penrith in last year’s decider chilling out in the Sunshine State and relaxing with his family, Smith relished the extra freedom in his days and decided now was the right time to walk away.

Watch The 2021 NRL Telstra Premiership Live & On-Demand with No Ad-Breaks During Play. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

While he said he has no immediate plans, joking he might “put my feet up for the next 12 months”, Smith acknowledged he still “felt good within myself physically and mentally and felt my form was still good enough to play in the NRL”. He also said he hopes the next chapter of his life “will involve rugby league in some capacity”.

It’s why Fox League presenter Yvonne Sampson won’t rule out an NRL comeback down the line.

She even floated the possibility of Smith missing the game so much he could return before the transfer deadline of August 1.

“Absolutely, he could do anything, because he truly is the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time),” Sampson told the Big Sports Breakfast when asked about the possibility of Smith taking this year off to spend time with his family, before returning in 2022.

“Of course he could. I’m not ruling out the fact that we wouldn’t see him before August 1.

“People have retired before — they’re drawing comparisons between when Alfie (Allan Langer) came back in 2001, Sonny Bill Williams has come back, Freddy (Brad Fittler) came back out of retirement.

“I think Cameron Smith will deserve this time off just to relax and live the life that he probably has always envisaged for his family.

“But just knowing the competitor we have witnessed over the last 20 years, it’s going to be hard for a future Immortal to just get into the daily grind of lunches, peak hour traffic.

“Do I think Cameron will just sort of fade into oblivion? I can’t see it.

“He thinks he’s just going to do paddleboarding and live the good life and play golf up around the Gold Coast in Queensland, but I think it’s very clear to everyone that he was struggling with this, even at 37-years-old, because he still has that desire to play.”

Smith wanted to be a one-club player.Source:Getty Images

Sampson was also among those who questioned the timing of Smith’s retirement announcement, which came the day before the season kicks off with a match between the Storm and Rabbitohs.

The former Queensland and Kangaroos captain came under fire for stealing the limelight on the eve of the new season after months of remaining silent on his future.

“I was focusing on the start of the premiership season. Good timing by our old friend Cameron Smith there,” Sampson said.

“I know a lot’s been said about it but it is funny to read, ‘I’m such a recluse, I could have easily just wandered off into the sunset and not said anything’, yet you chose 24 hours out from kick off. Very, very interesting.”

Smith mentioned how the allure of being a one-club player contributed to his decision to retire, because it was tough to wrap his head around playing for a Queensland-based club like the Broncos or Titans.

Sampson said there was no doubt not being able to pull on the purple jersey again made it too tough for Smith to go around again this season.

“Physically, mentally, he is still at the top of the game, which is unbelievable. But I think what he couldn’t really come to terms with was that he wasn’t going to be able to play for the Storm,” she said.

“After 19 seasons they said, ‘Thanks very much, we’ve got to move into the future. We’ve got Harry Grant, we’ve got Brandon Smith, we’re going to lose them if we keep you’.

“His options were Titans or Broncos, neither of those really peeled his bananas so he decided to retire.”

Source: Read Full Article