Rare air: Cameron Smith.Credit:AAP
Melbourne Storm are preparing for the biggest regular season game in club history as captain Cameron Smith becomes the first NRL player to play 400 games when his club hosts Cronulla next Saturday night.
Smith kicked the game-winning penalty goal in Storm's 16-14 win over St George Illawarra in Wollongong in game 399 and also became the first player to reach 2500 points.
With six Storm players and five Dragons away at State of Origin camp, Smith and his hardened forward pack proved the difference on Thursday night despite both sides being plagued by handling errors in the wet and windy conditions.
A penalty five minutes from full-time against Dragons back-rower Jacob Host for bumping Storm full-back Jahrome Hughes as he chased a high ball allowed Smith to deliver the winning points, his kick pushed by the wind before shaving the left post on its way in.
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But thoughts quickly turned to Smith's 400th – a game Bellamy views, finals excluded, is the biggest in the club's history.
"I don't think anyone can pump his tires up any more than they are already pumped up," Bellamy said about his captain.
"But other than finals games I don't know if this club will ever have a more important game.
"It's a huge honour for Cameron and a huge honour for our club. Cameron is going to be the first guy to ever do this and it will be a long time before someone else does it.
"Hopefully we can play to honour him and his achievements in the game.
"We have to make sure we prepare well if we want to play well next week."
The Storm lost Albert Vete in the second half on Thursday night after he dislocated his shoulder. The forward is expected to miss some time but the injury was still being assessed on Friday.
Five-eighth Billy Walters and forward Tino Faasuamaleaui both made their debuts while Solomone Kata was replaced in the game-day side by Marion Seve after he recovered from a shoulder problem.
While the AFL has had a host of players pass 300 games, especially in recent generations, the NRL has only had 36, with 30 of those taking place in the 2000s.
HistoriRead More – Source
Rare air: Cameron Smith.Credit:AAP
Melbourne Storm are preparing for the biggest regular season game in club history as captain Cameron Smith becomes the first NRL player to play 400 games when his club hosts Cronulla next Saturday night.
Smith kicked the game-winning penalty goal in Storm's 16-14 win over St George Illawarra in Wollongong in game 399 and also became the first player to reach 2500 points.
With six Storm players and five Dragons away at State of Origin camp, Smith and his hardened forward pack proved the difference on Thursday night despite both sides being plagued by handling errors in the wet and windy conditions.
A penalty five minutes from full-time against Dragons back-rower Jacob Host for bumping Storm full-back Jahrome Hughes as he chased a high ball allowed Smith to deliver the winning points, his kick pushed by the wind before shaving the left post on its way in.
Advertisement
But thoughts quickly turned to Smith's 400th – a game Bellamy views, finals excluded, is the biggest in the club's history.
"I don't think anyone can pump his tires up any more than they are already pumped up," Bellamy said about his captain.
"But other than finals games I don't know if this club will ever have a more important game.
"It's a huge honour for Cameron and a huge honour for our club. Cameron is going to be the first guy to ever do this and it will be a long time before someone else does it.
"Hopefully we can play to honour him and his achievements in the game.
"We have to make sure we prepare well if we want to play well next week."
The Storm lost Albert Vete in the second half on Thursday night after he dislocated his shoulder. The forward is expected to miss some time but the injury was still being assessed on Friday.
Five-eighth Billy Walters and forward Tino Faasuamaleaui both made their debuts while Solomone Kata was replaced in the game-day side by Marion Seve after he recovered from a shoulder problem.
While the AFL has had a host of players pass 300 games, especially in recent generations, the NRL has only had 36, with 30 of those taking place in the 2000s.
HistoriRead More – Source
