Advertisement

'Grub act': Ugly Cameron Smith moment that has NRL fans fuming

Cameron Smith is at the centre of controversy yet again after vision emerged of the Storm skipper appearing to yank on the ear of an opponent.

Fox Sports released video on Monday of Smith appearing to pull on Canberra winger Bailey Simonsson’s ears while wrestling in a tackle.

Simonsson lashed out at Smith as he rose to his feet, but Smith was penalised.

The Storm captain later asked referee Ben Cummins why he’d been penalised, to which Cummins responded: “Rubbish on the face.”

Cameron Smith, pictured here appearing to pull Bailey Simonsson's ears. Image: AAP
Did Cameron Smith purposely pull Bailey Simonsson's ears? Image: AAP

Smith seemed perplexed by the explanation, but the damning footage released on Monday might suggest Cummins was in the right.

Smith hasn’t been cited by the match review committee, but fans have widely condemned him on social media.

Latest example in Storm controversy

The Storm’s controversial tactics have come under heavy scrutiny in recent weeks, with crusher tackles and raised forearms in the spotlight.

Giant forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona got away with a crusher tackle two weeks ago against Souths, and appeared to lift his forearm into a defender’s face against Canberra.

Melbourne are believed to be the inventors of ‘wrestling’ and the dangerous crusher tackle.

Before Saturday night’s match, Raiders coach Ricky Stuart slammed the NRL for not standing up to the powerhouse club.

"I don't agree with the illegal stuff that happens on the ground,” Stuart said.

There has to be someone brave enough to stand up (to it).

"It's not just at the Melbourne Storm, any illegal foul tactic on the ground, I believe there is a responsibly with our people in charge of the game to get rid of it."

However Storm counterpart Craig Bellamy was having none of it.

“It was always seems to come up this time of year. The thing that disappoints me a bit (is) the guys who brought it up or are talking about it are saying we do this or that at training,” Bellamy said.

“I’ve never seen those guys at (our) training, so how do they know what we’re doing at training? We practise this and we practice that ... but they have never been to training so I don’t know how they know that.

“The insinuation is we look for shortcuts and exploit this and exploit that ... they just work really hard.

“The whole squad don’t get enough recognition for how hard they work.”

with AAP