Posted September 08, 2017 12:47:34

Photo: Cameron Smith will play in his 356th NRL match in Saturday's qualifying final. (AAP: Joe Castro)

Melbourne Storm, Queensland and Australia captain Cameron Smith is about to break the record for most games in the NRL.

Saturday's qualifying final against the Eels will be the 356th time he pulls on the Storm jumper. It's an incredible effort in such a physically and mentally demanding sport.

What is more impressive is that Smith is not blessed with incredible athletic ability. He does not fall into the stereotypical categories of a rugby league player as big, strong or fast. He has been told on numerous occasions that his body resembles that of an office worker.

His nickname amongst players is 'The Accountant' due to his stature.

When it comes to labelling 'the greatest player ever', usually the arguments revolve around either Andrew Johns or Johnathan Thurston. But in the past few days, these two players have anointed Smith with the title of the best they have seen.

So what makes him so good? Former Maroons and Kangaroos teammate Justin Hodges believes it's his intelligence.

"He is so smart between the ears, I think that is the difference. I think other players, even though they look sharper than him, his knowledge and calmness that he plays with is what separates him from everyone else," Hodges said.

"It's ability to read the game, he is always two or three plays ahead of everyone else."

Rugby league has changed so much since the 18-year-old half-back from Logan in Brisbane's south debuted in April 2002. That year the Warriors held up the JJ Giltinan Shield as the minor premiers, while the Newcastle Knights were defending their title from 2001.

As a spectator the game was much different. The speed was slower, there was less emphasis on the ruck and the contest seemed to be a lot more open.

Photo: Cameron Smith's intelligence has set him apart from his contemporaries. (AAP: Tracey Nearmy)

Smith played just two games that year but those at the Storm knew they had a player on their hands. Eventually Smith was shifted to hooker and the rest is history.

Fast forward 15 years and he has amassed a premiership (two other titles were stripped), a World Club challenge title, five grand final appearances (he missed 2008 due to suspension), the Dally M Medal, the Golden Boot award as the best player in the world, a World Cup, and four Wally Lewis Medals as Queensland's best in State of Origin.

Constant evolution behind Smith's greatness

He is still at the peak of his powers and at 34, doesn't seem to be slowing down.

Photo: To reach the NRL games record is all the more remarkable given Cameron Smith plays at hooker. (AAP: Joe Castro)

Hodges says Smith has always evolved as a footballer and this is what has kept him at the top of the pile over the years.

"He is not a guy who panics, he makes sure he instils a lot of calmness in his players," Hodges said.

"It's just his ability to adapt to a changing game. He has been in the NRL for 15 or 16 years now and he is still the best hooker in the game.

"Teams start figuring out what type of player you are and what you will do. At times you have to challenge yourself to do something different and he just manages to keep doing that.

"That's why the great players like Cam are so good, because even though you know what they are going to do, they still continue to get it done."

Smith's leadership is just as crucial to his success. Ask any player that has played with or against him and they will be only happy to elaborate on how strong his influence is on every game he plays.

Photo: Johnathan Thurston (L) says Cameron Smith is a leader who knows how to get the best out of his charges. (AAP: Dave Hunt)

Thurston says his calmness and composure at all times is what makes Smith great.

"He knows how to get the best our of the players around him," Thurston said.

"He can sense what the team is going through no matter what the scoreboard or clock says, you never feel like you are going to lose when you are playing alongside him."

Cooper Cronk has played more games with Smith than anyone else. He is in awe of Smith's milestone considering that he plays in such a tough position.

In the top 20 most capped NRL players of all time, there is only one other hooker (Luke Priddis is 16th with 315 games).

Photo: Cameron Smith's record is even more astonishing considering the amount of representative games he has also played. (AAP Image)

"It's an absolutely phenomenal achievement for a guy that plays in the middle third of the football field, who touches the ball more than most and probably makes the most amount of tackles in a game than anyone else," Cronk said.

"Most good things that happen on a football field involve Cameron Smith."

Smith's contract with the Storm is up at the end of next season, but with the NRL expected to introduce a veteran players allowance and the fact he looks after his body so well, Hodges expects him to eclipse a milestone previously unheard of.

"They reckon he will go for another two or three years and he can do that because he really looks after his body. There's no doubt he will pass 400 games," Hodges says.

Let's not forget he has also played for Queensland 42 times, Australia 50 times and the NRL All Stars on four occasions.

If all goes to plan he will eclipse the mark of 500 top grade matches. Not bad for a kid from Logan.

Topics: nrl, rugby-league, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, logan-city-dc-4114, qld, australia