NRL fans have reacted with shock amid reports Melbourne Storm legend Cameron Smith is set to join the Brisbane Broncos’ coaching staff. Smith played 433 games for the Storm and captained the NRL club to three premierships (as well as another two that were stripped).
He played 42 State of Origin games for Queensland and 56 Test matches for Australia, before becoming a popular commentator for Channel 9 and a Kangaroos selector. The 42-year-old has previously served as Billy Slater’s assistant coach with the Maroons, and was linked to the Kangaroos top job earlier this year before Kevin Walters got it.
Cameron Smith (L) will reportedly join Michael Maguire’s (R) coaching staff at the Brisbane Broncos. Image: Getty
On Thursday night, the Courier Mail dropped a bombshell that Smith will work under Michael Maguire on the Broncos’ coaching staff in 2026. Smith will reportedly work as a mentor to the Broncos’ crop of young players, including Reece Walsh, Payne Haas, Kotoni Staggs and Ezra Mam.
The Broncos have some gun hookers coming through the ranks in Blake Mozer and Cameron Bukowski, making Smith the perfect mentor. He played the most games in NRL history and is regarded as one of the smartest dummy-halves the game has ever seen.
Cameron Smith would be a brilliant addition to the Broncos’ coaching staff. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
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Smith reportedly joined Maguire, CEO Dave Donaghy and the rest of the Broncos’ coaching staff in Noosa last week, where they gathered to begin planning for 2026. Smith will be a brilliant addition to Maguire’s brains trust as they bid to win back-to-back titles.
If Smith’s move to the Broncos is confirmed, it would be another hammer blow to the Melbourne Storm. Craig Bellamy has reportedly given Smith his blessing to take up the role, but the Storm have taken some huge hits from the Broncos of late.
Bellamy’s side coughed up a big lead to lose to the Broncos in the NRL grand final, making it back-to-back losses in the decider for the Storm. Melbourne have also lost young gun Jonah Pezet to the Broncos (from 2027), as well as popular outside back Grant Anderson.
Smith is originally from Logan in Queensland, about 20 minutes outside of Brisbane. He played for Norths Devils in the Queensland Cup, but signed with the Storm after Broncos officials missed their chance to get him as an untested youngster.
The Broncos have tried to get him back on multiple occasions, firstly when Anthony Griffin failed to lure him back to Brisbane in 2014. The Broncos again tried to snare Smith in 2021 for a last hurrah under Walters, but he decided to hang up the boots instead.
NRL world stunned by news about Cameron Smith
Smith has previously worked with Maguire when the now-Broncos coach was an assistant under Bellamy at the Storm from 2004 and 2009. Speaking earlier this year, Australian Rugby League Commission boss Peter V’landys heaped praise on Smith’s leadership despite overlooking him for the Kangaroos job.
“He is one of the greatest players we’ve ever seen,” V’landys said. “He has remarkable football intelligence. I’ve had the opportunity to sit with Cameron when the selectors pick the Australian side and his knowledge and thinking is second-to-none. It’s very impressive. His rugby league intellect is extraordinary.”
On social media, fans have been blown away by the reports of Smith joining the Broncos. Some speculated it could mean he’s getting ready to take over from Bellamy when the Storm coach finally steps away.