Praise For Cameron Smith's 50th Test Appearance

"He's The Next Immortal"


Article heading image for Praise For Cameron Smith's 50th Test Appearance

Image: @NRL

With Cameron Smith reaching the epic milestone of 50 Australian test jerseys, it seems only fitting that we pay tribute to such a massive achievement.

He's the second player in 109 years to reach the milestone of 50 tests, joined only by Darren Lockyer (59), and Cooper Cronk went as far to say that he'll be the next Immortal. Check out some of his teammates' comments below.

Cooper Cronk

"I'm sure the average NRL career is about 40-odd games. Cameron Smith's playing 50 for his country. What a number of guys would love to do at the NRL level - he's been doing at a national level and international level for 10-plus years. There's not enough superlatives to describe Cameron Smith the man and the player.

"But one thing, the biggest wrap I can give Cameron Smith is over 300 games for Melbourne, 40-odd State of Origin games and 50 Tests, I don't think he's ever let anyone down. He's reliable, he's consistent, he's tough, he's durable and he's been doing that for a long time, and almost 50 Tests for Australia. On Friday night, I think it's only fitting that we are tough, reliable, consistent and durable for him for 80 minutes. It's a special milestone, only one other player's achieved it, and he's arguably the next immortal in line."

Trent Merrin

"I remember playing my first Test with him and it gave me goosebumps to play alongside a man like that. I'll be able to tell my family when I get older 'I played in Cameron Smith's 50th'."

Johnathan Thurston

"Whenever I'm in his team I don't ever feel like we're going to lose. I've grown up alongside Smithy, played against him as a 13-year-old, played alongside him as a 15-year-old. It's been a pleasure to play so many games alongside him and I've seen him grow into the leader that he's become today.

""The big boys try to run straight over the top of him and he dominates a lot of them. I wish I had that strength."

Mal Meninga

"It is remarkable considering the length of time our game's been going, certainly at an international level. It needs to be acknowledged and we did a terrific job of that last night. At the end of the day, knowing Cameron, he gets a bit overawed by it. His family's here to watch this, at the end of the day he wants to play really good footy."

Darren Lockyer

"Some people don't remember he was a late starter because Danny Buderus was the hooker and he didn't start playing for Australia until he was (in his) mid-20s. He doesn't miss a lot of footy so it's a good achievement for him as well."

Interviews courtesy of AAP 

5 May 2017




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