Melbourne Storm captain Cameron Smith has added to his legendary mystique, after it was revealed he played out the 2020 NRL Finals series with injured ribs.
Smith, who many are crowning the greatest of all-time, reportedly played with either seriously damaged cartilage or broken ribs in the club’s premiership victory over Penrith on Sunday night.
First revealed in the Sydney Morning Herald, Smith suffered the injury in the Qualifying Final win over the Eels, but was cleared to play in both the Preliminary and Grand Finals because there was no further damage he could do, such was the extent of the issue.
The 37-year-old played the last two games of the season with custom padding on his chest to protect the damaged area.
Luckily for Melbourne, the injury didn’t deter the veteran, as he completed the second most tackles for the Storm in Sunday’s decider with 29.
The future Immortal not only just managed to get through the game, but left his stamp on the encounter, scoring a try, directing the play and adding 10 points off his boot in a dominant display.
Smith surely would have capped off his finals campaign with the Clive Churchill medal if it wasn’t for the blistering second-half impact of Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen.
Smith’s career has been nothing short of remarkable, and this revelation only adds to one of rugby league’s most decorated CVs.