Moments after receiving the second Golden Boot Award of his stellar career, Kangaroos captain Cameron Smith has nominated his next great challenge as winning back‑to‑back premierships with the Melbourne Storm.
Smith, who said he was both humbled and delighted to win the coveted award for the world's best player, pointed out that no team in the NRL era had been able to win titles in consecutive years and that an immense challenge was ahead of the Storm with a new halves combination.
The Australian skipper is up for the challenge and was emphatic when asked what he had left to achieve in the game.
Smith said 2017 was close to his best and most consistent year ever in rugby league.
He is sitting on 358 career NRL games and said the magic landmark of 400 was "achievable".
Smith, who also won the Golden Boot in 2007, edged out Tonga's Jason Taumololo to win the 2017 award with England winger Jermaine McGilvary and Fiji Bati's Suliasi Vunivalu also on the final shortlist.
The Australian Kangaroos will take on England at 10pm Saturday in the Rugby League World Cup final.
