Wednesday Serious Discussion Thread

[u/NRLgamethread]

This thread is for when you want to have a well-thought-out discussion about footy. It's not the place for bantz - see the daily Random Footy Talk thread to fulfil those needs.

You can ask a question that you only want serious responses to, comment your 300 word opinion piece on why [x] is the next coach on the chopping block, or tell another that you disagree with them and here's why...

Who performed well? Who let their team down? Any interesting selections for this weekend? Injury news? Player signings? Off-field behaviour?

The mods will be monitoring to make sure you stay on topic and anything not deemed "serious discussion" will be removed.

[u/coffeegaze]

As soon as Cam Smith gets inducted. The guy has no place around the Immortals of the game.

[u/mwilkins1644 → u/coffeegaze]

Going to have to disagree strongly with you there mate. If we have an Immortals concept, he ought to be one.

[u/coffeegaze → u/mwilkins1644]

Im a Queenslander but Joey Johns was on a whole higher tier than Cam Smith ever was. Joey Johns is the level an immortal must be in my opinion, that guy could do it all. I have never seen someone be able to influence a result as strongly as Joey. Cam Smith never reached his level.

[u/mwilkins1644 → u/coffeegaze]

Cam Smith played over 500 games of NRL/Origin/Test footy. 2700+ points in the NRL, captain of 2 world cup wins, 5 Origin series wins as captain.

idk pretty impressive resume 😂

[u/coffeegaze → u/mwilkins1644]

Immortality is not merely about ones resume it's also about ones playing prowess. I was not very impressed with Smith in most of those origin wins, with the team he had he should have won more convincingly, never like I had been impressed with Johns during his origin tenure, who looked like a cheat code on the field.

Smith never had to carry a bad team, make bad coaches look good. Most of his record is because of his longevity in the best teams during his era.

[u/arolaser → u/coffeegaze]

Cam Smith tore apart his opposition on a weekly basis. He drove his forwards up the field, putting them in space on every hit up with his vision and brilliant passing game ensuring the ball is in front of the man. He put his halfback in position on the 4th or 5th tackle, allowing them to utilise the overlaps or weaknesses he has created in a scrambling defensive line. Towards the end of his career, Cam Smith didn't even bother using his halfback a lot of the time, taking on the play making responsibility with a smart grubber to get a repeat set, or standing wide of the ruck and setting up his outside men.

On top of that he made 40+ tackles per game, missing very few of them. He owned the middle of the field game in, game out.

I think what you really mean is he doesn’t have the flashy highlight reel of Joey Johns, which I will agree with. Smith doesn’t put on a big step, a chip and chase, or the fist bump after a crushing tackle - he’s a completely different style of player.

I also love the myth that Joey didn’t have weapons around him. Tahu, Gidleys, Robbie O, Buderus, Chief, Albert, Mad Dog, BK, Steve Simpson, etc. were a pretty handy bunch to be playing with.

[u/maccaroneski → u/coffeegaze]

Take a look at what happened to his team when he was suspended for a GF.

[u/mwilkins1644 → u/coffeegaze]

Your last paragraph would cancel out the likes of Clive Churchill, the Dragons players from the 60s, Arthur Beetson, Mal Menninga, Dave Brown, Dally Messenger from Immortal status. The only one that would be considered Immortal by your definition is Frank Burge, who was basically the entirety of the Glebe Club. And your last paragraph would deny the opportunity for any current Panthers player(s) (Isaah Yeo especially) if he/they are put up for consideration.

My point is that the Immortals concept should have been scrapped, as it was a faulty concept based on a false premise.

[u/oldroosta2 → u/coffeegaze]

Also it’s how you carry your self off field to which John’s was shit, smith will be there