BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 12: Cameron Smith of the Maroons breaks away from the defence during game three of the State Of Origin series between the Queensland Maroons and the New South Wales Blues at Suncorp Stadium on July 12, 2017 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

I’m not sure how your rugby league week was shaping up over the last few days; in New South Wales things appeared to be going along swimmingly.

Some thrilling and enjoyable football was played over the course of the ANZAC weekend, seeing Phil Rothfield called out by James Maloney brought much satisfaction and my Bulldogs had a nice win against the Cowboys on Friday night.

With the season continuing to gain momentum, news around the upcoming representative fixtures was slowly beginning to trickle onto the back pages.

For Blues fans, Origin couldn't come quickly enough. After a glorious triumph in 2018 under the tutelage of rugby league coaching’s greatest hippie Brad Fittler, the idea of the youthful Blues playing with another season of confidence and experience under their belts was enticing.

With Queensland’s most lethal attacking backline option Valentine Holmes following a seemingly realistic NFL dream in the United States, the banana benders' stocks were starting to look a little thin on the ground.

Add in the significant retirements of Maroon greats Greg Inglis and Billy Slater and the chips appeared to be well and truly stacked in favour of New South Wales.

Now, as if to add salt to the wounds, Queensland’s likely half-back Daly Cherry-Evans has gone down with the most popular of rugby league injuries, syndesmosis, and Jake Friend has suffered a torn pectoral muscle that will keep him out for an extended period of time.

With Queensland selectors no doubt combing the country looking for reinforcements, regardless of their state of birth, the likelihood of a comfortable victory for the Blues appeared to be growing with each passing day.

However, Maroons coach Kevin Walters had a plan. With Cherry-Evans definitely out of selection contention for Game 1, the Dragons’ Ben Hunt appeared the most likely replacement.

However, when Friend felt the burning, knife-like pain associated with a torn pec and with Andrew McCullough far from setting the world on fire with his early season form in Brisbane, Hunt’s ability to fill the hooking role made him the perfect fit for two vacant positions in the spine.

The problem for Walters was the identity of the man who would fill the spot remaining when the selectors decided exactly what to do with Hunt.

With Kalyn Ponga a walk-up start at fullback and Cameron Munster firming as a likely centre partner for Will Chambers, the cane toad’s numbers appeared a little out of whack.

North Queensland’s Michael Morgan would undoubtedly fill a space in the spine yet the Maroons were beginning to look a man or two short in key positions.

Until, that is, the whispers began on Tuesday morning. The first I heard of Cameron Smith’s potential resurrection in Origin football was via social media. Initially, I thought it was just a silly meme or a bad James Faulkner-like gag that emanated from the account of a friend.

Then it grew. By late afternoon, Smith pulling on a Maroon jumper in 2019 was being likened to Alan Langer’s heroic return to the squad in 2001. The best word to describe New South Wales' view of the future immortal's return was panic.

Cameron Smith has a Midas touch. However, it isn’t based on mere luck, fortune or opportunity. He is the greatest rugby league player of his generation due to hard work, incredible durability and a level of football intelligence that has rarely been seen.

New South Wales should be scared; quaking in its proverbial boots. The potential fairy tale ending has been set up thanks to the misadventures and absences of other Queensland players. That makes the mountain to conquer immense and should Smith play a role in the effort, the narrative becomes compelling.

With the Maroons looking more and more like David's to the Blues’ Goliath's, a Smith return crafts a scenario that could enhance and magnify his legend even further.

If Queensland were able to achieve an against the odds and backs to the wall State of Origin victory, with Cameron Smith playing a role, the most astonishing postscript to what has already been an amazing and unparalleled career would be written.

It might just eliminate any doubts emanating from south of the border as to whether Smith is the greatest player of the modern era.

It appears to be written in the stars. Of course it is. It always is when Cameron Smith is involved. Hence the apprehension and fear that Blues’ supporters should feel.

Considering his ability to produce the remarkable in 392 first grade games, 42 Origin matches and 56 appearances for the Kangaroos, it almost certainly will happen.

2 COMMENTS

  1. That the Maroons should be trying to bring Smithy back says an awful lot about the state of the maroons playing stocks. Whether he does or he doesn’t, the blues should be taking heart from the attempt rather than the opposite.

  2. Tbh they should be using this origin to bleed young guns to try and push there development and make young stars even though I know they won’t players like Ofahengaue, Mahoney, Fifita,Flegler, Allen, Tuala, Sami, Brimson, Hipgrave, Capewell and Martin should all get look ins at the very least because qld are already heavy underdogs why not try something

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