Maroons and Storm great Cameron Smith has talked down the possibility of taking on a coaching role following retirement.
Smith, 36, celebrated his 400th career NRL match a number of weeks ago and while deep into the twilight of his illustrious career, Smith doesn't see himself holding a clipboard in his future.
A player touted to have one of the best footballing brains in the games history, Smith has always been heavily favoured to move into the coaches box once his playing days are over, having talked up the potential of coaching on numerous occasions earlier into his career.
As the last days of his career become closer and closer, Smith has begun to fill his chances with doubt, believing he may not reach the same fortune he has as a player.
“To be honest, coaching doesn’t appeal to me, it really doesn’t,” he told The Courier Mail.
“If I ever took on a coaching role, I’d want to be the best at it, just like anything else in life I’ve tried to do.
“I just don’t think I have the energy and commitment needed to be a great coach.
“I look at the way Craig Bellamy and his assistants operate. They put a ridiculous amount of time into their work with analysing what we are doing at training, then they move on to watching the opposition and breaking down what they are doing so we as players are prepared for each team.
“I just don’t think I could devote that much time to coaching.
“I’ve given up the best part of 20 years of weekends. I’d love to have my weekends back. I want to wake up on a Saturday or Sunday morning and be able to walk down to the local cafe, grab a coffee, muck around with the kids then come home and enjoy watching the footy.”
Smith revealed that if he was to return to the Maroons, he would likely re-unite with the side in a supporting role as an assistant, to work with the teams hooker or playmakers.
“I could play a support role for Queensland,” he said.
“There’s no doubt I want to stay involved with the game. I have loved it since I’ve started playing so I always want to be a part of it, but in what capacity that is, I’m not too sure.
“I definitely won’t be a full-time coach. There’s so much pressure with coaching and playing 400 games I’ve felt that expectation and pressure for long enough.
“Guys like Peter Sterling and Andrew Johns are brilliant analysts on TV so maybe that is an opportunity for me post-playing, but right now I’m enjoying my football with the Storm.”
