Cameron Smith is good enough to play at halfback all season for Melbourne Storm and may spend significant time there as Kiwi Test hooker Brandon Smith slots in at No.9.
That's the verdict from halfback of the century Andrew Johns, as the Storm captain (36) heads into what is likely his final NRL season.
Johns cast doubt over Jahrome Hughes filling the Storm halfback spot full-time, with the utility having played there as plans to make Brodie Croft the long-term No.7 fizzled out.
"The only worry for me is the No.7, I don't think Jahrome Hughes is an out-and-out seven," Johns told Wide World of Sports, while predicting Melbourne would again finish in the top four.
"[But] when you've got Cameron Smith at dummy-half, you don't need a real dominant halfback. [Cameron] Munster at six is a running player, so even though Cameron plays dummy-half, he shifts between dummy-half, first-receiver, and he sees the game better than anyone has ever played before."
Johns said that he could "definitely" see a scenario where Cameron Smith started at halfback and Brandon Smith at hooker. Yet he reckons that a similar scenario to last year is more likely, where Cameron Smith regularly shifts out of hooker after Brandon Smith is brought off the bench.
"I think they'll bring them on and Cameron will just float around. There were times last year when they were up against it and Cameron lifted the team, where he would get into dummy-half and then he'd float between first-receiver," Johns said.
"He could play the whole year at halfback and still play well. He sees the game so well, but he has a feel for the game [too]; when to slow the game down, when to quicken it up, when to pass, when to run.
"Special player and I think during the year there will be times when Brandon Smith - my favourite - comes on and Cameron will go to halfback, first-receiver, second-receiver. Sand boy - whatever he wants to do."
A switch to halfback for Cameron Smith was touted last year, but Hughes has since been favoured as the man to partner Munster in the halves.
It seems that the Immortal-in-waiting will continue to play a pseudo halfback role and may only switch to No.7 formally if Hughes' playmaking is deemed insufficient, or the Storm want more game time for Brandon Smith; a destructive ball-runner who was man-of-the-match in the recent All Stars game.
Brandon Smith suffered a facial fracture in that game and will miss several matches at the start of the NRL season. Yet he is a sensational player whose performances may demand a bigger role.
Brandon Smith averaged just 43 minutes per game last year, against 78 for Cameron Smith. The Storm captain just told NewsCorp that he intends to play 80 minutes in as many games as possible this season, meaning that Brandon Smith's path to more game time is blocked unless Cameron Smith - who had 17 try assists last year - spends significantly more time at halfback.
In some respects, Brandon Smith has been a victim of his skipper's decision to extend his career beyond a record 400 games. There were reports, strongly refuted by Melbourne, that Brandon Smith was upset when Cameron Smith signed a two-year contract extension before last season. The 23-year-old would be a starting hooker at most clubs, though the Storm may also be wary of blunting his effectiveness with a sharp rise in playing time.
Brandon Smith averaged 89 run metres per game for the Storm last season, offering welcome impetus from dummy-half given that Cameron Smith has run far less often late in his career. In his brilliant All Stars outing, Brandon Smith played 59 minutes for two tries, four line breaks, 177 run metres and 29 tackles.
Whatever happens this season, Brandon Smith will be a strong replacement as Melbourne's starting hooker when Cameron Smith retires. The younger hooker is signed with the Storm until the end of 2022.
Both Smiths will have significant influence over the Storm's fortunes this year, though their best efforts may not be enough. While tipping Melbourne for a strong regular season, Johns believes that they will again fall short come finals time.
"As long as he plays a lot of games, Cameron, and the big forwards [Jesse and Kenny] Bromwich and [Nelson] Asofa-Solomona ... without a doubt they'll be in the top four," Johns said.
"But I don't think they can win it. Last year, we can to the semi-finals, I don't think they've got another gear in them.
"The other teams, Canberra, the Roosters, they went bang, up a gear. I don't think Melbourne Storm have got that other kick in them once they get to the big games, but they'll be thereabouts in the top four."
from WWOS http://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/melbourne-storm-cameron-smith-halfback-brandon-smith-hooker/b9b62836-66fa-4dee-bf7d-3f9350431981
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