NRL finals 2015: Melbourne Storm hail ongoing influence of Cameron Smith

IT was the one-percenter that won Melbourne Storm a week off and hosting rights to Saturday night’s preliminary final against North Queensland at AAMI Park.

The moment that, in many ways, sums up Cameron Smith’s remarkable career and his unquenchable desire for success, even after more than 300 NRL matches and every accolade the game can offer.

It came in the final 90 seconds of the qualifying final two weeks ago at Allianz Stadium with Storm clinging to a two-point lead against the fast-finishing Sydney Roosters.

The minor premiers had the ball 40m out from Storm’s line on their final tackle with halfback Jackson Hastings looking to put up a high ball in the direction of young Melbourne fullback Cameron Munster.

If Munster takes it cleanly, Storm wins. If he spills it, the Roosters could score and steal the match at the death.

Sensing the importance, an exhausted and flu-ridden Smith conjures the energy to sprint out from marker to pressure Hastings before he can hoist the ball.

The young Rooster rushes the kick, allowing Munster to make the catch ­unchallenged. Smith is on his haunches with nothing left, but he has won Storm the game.

They bombed it and he was the one who came out putting pressure on them and, if he hadn’t Hastings may have put it where he wanted it,” Storm coach Craig Bellamy said.

Even in the heat of the battle, Bellamy allowed himself a split second to applaud his captain, whose clutch goalkicking on the night proved the difference.

“I often think of how blessed I’ve been,” Bellamy said.

“They’re the things you expect of him because he keeps doing it, but it still amazes you how he keeps doing it.

“You’re just still in awe of what he can do ... his want and desire to keep going is quite amazing.”

But that is just Smith, the ­ultimate competitor who stops at nothing to achieve success.

In the pre-season, the ­experts were lining up to write off Storm’s chances. On Saturday night, the club will host a preliminary final.

When asked if the knockers had been a motivating factor this year, Smith replied: “Maybe a little bit, I’ll be honest.

“I think like most people, particularly sportsmen, there is a lot of pride about what we do.

“So when people start knocking your team or your team’s ability, you take a bit of offence at that.