As Mal Meninga prepares to take the reins of the NRL's 18th team, the Perth Bears, attention has swiftly turned to who will lead the Australian Kangaroos moving forward —and one legendary name is in the spotlight.
Cameron Smith responded to speculation linking him to the national team's top job, clarifying that while he has not been formally approached, the Kangaroos are the only team that would ever tempt him into coaching.
“No one’s asked me, no one’s approached me,” Smith said on Nine’s 100% Footy.
“I have seen a few articles out there and my name tossed up there.”
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Smith, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in rugby league history, retired from the game after winning the 2020 premiership after an unparalleled career with the Melbourne Storm, Queensland Maroons and Kangaroos.
While coaching never seemed to be on his radar, he admitted there's one exception.
When asked during his playing days whether he'd consider coaching, Smith said he had "empathically said no. But if there was one team that it would gain my interest to coach, it would be the Kangaroos."
Smith's potential return to the international arena, this time as a coach, would be a major storyline ahead of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup on home soil.
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While there has been no announcement on a replacement, Smith joins a shortlist of candidates that includes fellow former Kangaroo Brad Fittler and former Brisbane Broncos coach Kevin Walters.
The coaching credentials of Cameron Smith remain untested, but his leadership pedigree and knowledge of the game make him a serious contender for the Kangaroos coaching job.