Australian rugby league great Cameron Smith has had to deal with plenty of criticism throughout his lengthy career, but his father has revealed an All Blacks legend helped him when the heat got heavy.
Ahead of this year’s NRL Grand Final, where Smith could finally hang up his boots with Storm, his father Wayne Smith has spoken about what – and who – has helped keep his son in the game for so long.
Smith has played a record 429 NRL matches since his 2002 debut and also holds the all-time points-scoring record.
Smith Senior said the hooker has had someone to talk to who has walked a similar path – former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw.
McCaw was connected to the Storm through his former manager Bart Campbell, who is a part-owner and ex-chairman at the Melbourne club.
According to the Australian, that connection has seen McCaw make multiple appearances at the Storm, such as before their Grand Final qualifier in 2017 and last year when he presented Kiwi player Kenny Bromwich with his jersey for his 150th game.
Melbourne Storm faces the Penrith Panthers in the NRL Grand Final at 8.30pm Sunday.
[Source: The Australian TVNZ News]
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