Cameron Smith is the most decorated rugby league player in the history of the sport. A strong leader and an influential person in sport, Cameron Smith is an outstanding keynote speaker who talks about themes of teamwork, goal setting and leadership, interlacing messages with anecdotes from his career.
Born in Brisbane, Smith played for Logan Brothers as a child before progressing through the Brisbane Norths junior system. Debuting for the Melbourne Storm as a halfback in 2002, Smith soon found a home at hooker and has since led the Melbourne Storm to seven grand finals and Queensland to a record twelve State of Origin titles in thirteen years.
In 2007 Smith claimed the mantle of the world's best player and in following five years since won every individual and collective honour in the game, including the Golden Boot for International Player of the Year, Dally M Medal, Wally Lewis Medal, NRL Grand Final, State of Origin Series, Tri Nations and Four Nations Tournaments and the Rugby League World Cup.
A hugely influential person on the field and a humble statesman off it, by the time Smith retired he held every single individual and team record in rugby league history – as well as a legacy that will live on as one of the greatest and most influential Australian athletes of all time.
Previous Experience:
Smith's unrivalled form continued in 2013 when he rewarded Dally M Hooker of the Year, Dally M Captain of the Year and Dally M Representative Player of the Year. To cap another incredible season, he went on to guide Australia to victory in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.
In March 2015, Smith agreed to terms on a four-year contract extension with Storm.
Defying all odds, in 2017, aged 34, Cameron enjoyed his most successful season to date – captaining Melbourne Storm to the NRL Minor Premiership and Premiership, Queensland to another State of Origin series and Australia to victory in the Rugby League World Cup. Individually he was crowned Melbourne Storm Player of the Year, Dally M Medallist for the NRL's Player of the Year and also collected the Golden Boot for best player in the world, along the way breaking the record for most games played in the NRL (356).
In 2018 Smith sent shockwaves across rugby league by retiring from representative football – thereby relinquishing his Queensland and Australia captaincy roles. While depleting the stocks of the Maroons and Kangaroos, Melbourne Storm reaped the benefits with Smith leading the club to a third consecutive NRL Grand Final.
In 2019 Smith broke the NRL's all-time points scoring record and bypassed the magical 400 NRL game-barrier, an achievement many believed would never happen and most agree will never happen again. Defying all odds, he then led Melbourne Storm to their third minor premiership in four years – the best performance by any NRL side since the 1959 St George Dragons.
In 2020 Cameron led the Melbourne Storm to another NRL Premiership – his 5th – cementing his position as the greatest player in the history league.
Talking Points
Cameron's many on-field records speak for themselves, but perhaps his greatest achievement is how grounded he has remained throughout it all. He is an intelligent, well-spoken family man wit ... keep reading National Rugby League Chief Executive Officer, Todd Greenberg
Cam has won everything in the game, but also has exemplary leadership skills, off-field gravitas and enormous pulling power when he talks people listen. If I'm setting up a new team I'd make him the captain-coach, simple as that.
