Retired NRL legend and former Australian Kangaroos captain Cameron Smith has declared the national job is the only coaching role he’d consider—before suggesting super coach Wayne Bennett would do a great job.
“At this point in my life I have no aspirations at all to coach club footy,” Smith explained on this week’s One Six Seven podcast with Melbourne Storm stars Ryan Papenhuyzen and Jahrome Hughes.
“I’ve seen Bellyache (Craig Bellamy) and what he goes through, and the commitment you have to give to the team and the players, I just don’t think I have that in me right now.
“State of Origin is another, it’s just a beast, again watching Billy (Slater) do his thing, particularly in the last 12 months, it’s tested him out a little bit.”
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“If there was any job available that I would consider doing it would be the Kangaroos,” Smith then added.
‘I haven’t spoken to anyone’
“I was lucky enough to play for the Kangaroos and I understand the significance of being part of that,” Smith said of an international career that saw him represent his country on 56 occasions, second behind only Darren Lockyer (59).
“If I had the opportunity it would be great, but I haven’t spoken to anyone about it at the NRL or the ARL Commission, I don’t exactly know what they’re thinking.
“Up until a couple of weeks ago I think we all assumed Brad Fittler was going to get the job until he made himself available, so we’ll see what happens.
“My name’s been tossed out there, Kevvie Walters, Wayne Bennett as well—there are some rules in place at the moment, but I think game is looking at possibly changing that.
“If Wayne Bennett was the coach, well, the team’s in great hands, he’s one of the best coaches the game has seen in a long, long time, he’d do a great job.”
As reported last week, the main obstacle to Bennett’s appointment appears to be the ARLC’s own rules which currently preclude NRL club coaches from holding the position.
The same rules saw incumbent Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga reluctantly step down last month to take the reins of the NRL’s 18th franchise, the Perth Bears.
Whoever is ultimately appointed, the clock is ticking.
This year’s end of season Kangaroo Tour will be the first since 2003, with the team departing just two weeks after the NRL Grand Final—and barely three months from now.
England host Australia in three tests beginning at Wembley Stadium (London) on October 25, followed by Everton Stadium (Liverpool) on November 1 and Headingley (Leeds) on November 8.