Cameron Smith predicts 400-game milestones will become a regular occurrence as the Melbourne veteran prepares to become the first NRL player to cross the magic mark next weekend.
Smith’s 400th game, at home against Cronulla on July 13, has been touted by Storm coach Craig Bellamy as the biggest game in the club’s 22-year history outside of finals and grand finals.
In the 112-year history of Australian first-grade rugby league, the former Queensland and Australian captain will crack the much-vaunted milestone in what shapes as a celebration for the game.
The 36-year-old will bring it up in what is his 18th season in first grade.
It brings into focus his remarkable durability and longevity, with numbers provided by Fox Sports Stats revealing he has missed just 11 games since becoming a regular first-grader in 2003.
He made his debut in 2002 but didn’t become a fixture of the Storm side until round one the following year.
Since then he has played 397 of a possible 437 games.
Of those 40 games he has missed, 25 have been due to State of Origin unavailability and another four due to suspension, while the remaining 11 he was either injured or rested.
His biggest stretch on the sideline was a month in 2010 – due to a strained elbow ligament.
And since 2003 he has played at least 20 games every year.
“There’s got to be some luck involved,” Smith said.
“We talk a lot here about how you create your own luck. You do that through working hard.
“Whenever I’ve trained, I’ve trained in those sessions as hard as I can.
“I’ve been physically and mentally prepared for each game that I’ve played. I haven’t missed a lot of games and I haven’t missed a lot of training sessions either.”
While Smith did his best to play down the milestone, he admitted the Sharks clash wouldn’t feel like just another game.
But he said 400-gamers wouldn’t be a rarity in the future as sports science evolves and players remain on the field for longer.
He pointed to the growing number of 300-game players, which were formerly a once-in-a-generation occurrence.
Before 2006, only eight players reached the mark but today there are 35 and another two – Benji Marshall and Gavin Cooper – are set to bring up their triple century next weekend.
“We’re seeing more 300-gamers, that comes down to the work that goes on away from the game with your injury prevention, your recovery and all the science behind the training program,” Smith said.
“The game has got faster. It’s more physical than ever, we’re seeing bigger bodies play the game, the collisions are much more forceful but guys are churning out 200-300 games.
“I think someone will get it down the track. I really do hope there’s another player because I think it’s a great story for the game.”
